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The Pittsburgh Steelers are making moves to strengthen their playoff push, adding veteran safety Eric Rowe to their practice squad just days after grinding out a tough win against Baltimore.
The Steelers held the high-powered Ravens to just 16 points on Sunday – Baltimore’s lowest scoring output this season. They did it without scoring a single touchdown themselves, but hey, a win is a win in the AFC North.
It’s been quite a ride for Pittsburgh lately. They’ve won five straight games and sit at 8-2, leading their division despite facing one of the NFL’s toughest schedules.
General manager Omar Khan has been busy. Before the trade deadline, he brought in wide receiver Mike Williams from the Jets and linebacker Preston Smith from the Packers. Now he’s added Rowe, who brings some serious playoff experience to the team.
Rowe’s got quite a story. The Eagles picked him in the second round back in 2015, but traded him to New England a year later. During his time with the Patriots, he picked up two Super Bowl rings under Bill Belichick.
He really found his groove in Miami, where he spent four seasons and made it to the playoffs last year. In his final three regular-season games with the Dolphins, Rowe racked up 29 tackles, forced a fumble, and grabbed an interception. He added eight more tackles in their playoff loss to Buffalo.
The timing of this move is interesting. Pittsburgh’s heading to Cleveland for a Thursday night showdown with their division rivals. It’s not clear if Rowe will suit up for the game, but his addition gives the Steelers some valuable depth in their secondary.
This is just the start of a brutal stretch for Pittsburgh. They’re facing seven more games against tough opponents, including matchups with playoff regulars Philadelphia and Kansas City. Having a veteran like Rowe who’s been through the postseason grind could prove pretty valuable down the stretch.
