Twenty-five days after the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick and on the second practice of training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers fortified their safety depth with the signing of veteran Chuck Clark on Friday.
The 30-year-old Clark will be entering his ninth NFL season and has been a regular starter in the NFL (when healthy) since 2019. Clark (6-0, 209) has extensive experience as an in-the-box strong safety and at deep free safety in addition to in the slot as a cornerback.
Clark took part in Friday’s weather-shortened practice at Saint Vincent, rotating in as a deep safety with the second teamers during the latter portions of the session.
“He’s a veteran player, a guy who’s experienced in the NFL and a guy we are familiar with from competing against him,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “And so, excited about getting him the fold and giving him an opportunity.”
Much of the familiarity Tomlin has with Clark comes from the six seasons Clark spent with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. Clark was traded in 2023 to the New York Jets but suffered a torn ACL that summer and did not play that season. He returned last year to make 12 starts for New York.
A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2017, Clark has 108 games (75 starts), five interceptions, six forced fumbles, 4 1/2 sacks, nine QB hits and 453 tackles (278 solo, 9 for loss) in his career.
The Steelers dealt Fitzpatrick, in part, for Jalen Ramsey, a cornerback who, during the first day of practice Thursday, lined up often at free safety. DeShon Elliott was signed to a contract extension this past summer to play the traditional strong safety spot, and veteran free-agent signee Juan Thornhill entered camp as the top free safety. Undrafted rookie Sebastian Castro also is among the options.
Tomlin declined to go into detail about the Steelers’ plans for deployment of Clark, saying that training camp will sort that out.
As a corresponding roster move, the Steelers waived defensive tackle Domenique Davis.
