Quincy Roche has been through all of this before with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that doesn’t mean these 2023 organized team activities bear much resemblance to what he encountered at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in 2021.

After all, when Roche was spending his rookie summer with the Steelers, the NFL was still operating under the restrictions in place out of fears related to the coronavirus pandemic. That meant, outside of teammates and select others, most of those Roche was interacting with were on a screen via Zoom. And much of the instruction he was getting from coaches came via that method as well.

“I had to meet everyone, some people again, so many I never met in person,” Roche said after Thursday’s OTAs session. “And then trying to learn that way? The NFL is hard enough as it is.”

Roche, this summer, gets another shot at learning the Steelers’ way and proving he can earn a spot on the defense. An outside linebacker who was highly productive in college, Roche is back with the Steelers after spending about a year and a half with the New York Giants.

“I am glad they are welcoming me once again,” Roche said. “Obviously, I chose to be here for a second time, so (that shows) I loved it the first time. So I am glad to be back.”

Roche did not make the Steelers 53-man roster as a rookie sixth-round pick to open the 2021 season, and although the Steelers surely would have put him on their practice squad, Roche was claimed off waivers by the Giants. He was playing in games for them by Week 5 and in the starting lineup three weeks later.

Meanwhile, the player the Steelers elected to keep over Roche, Jamir Jones, was subsequently waived. And the Steelers struggled with depth at outside linebacker all season, particularly when Melvin Ingram forced a trade.

In 2022, Roche bounced between the Giants active roster and practice squad, playing only six defensive snaps in three game appearances.

“I think it was good for me,” Roche said. “I enjoyed my time in New York. I enjoyed the coaches and the way they were teaching, and I think it was good for me, those two years.”

Now he’s back with the Steelers, whose scheme differs from that used by the Giants. Roche will need to show he can excel on special teams if he’s going to make the roster as a No. 4 or 5 OLB behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and recently signed veteran backup Markus Golden.

“Absolutely, I think I’m a better version of myself now than I was (with the Steelers the first time),” Roche said. “I think you can see it all around. Maturity, not just as physically but mentally my maturity, skill-wise, I have seen it and put it to the test, seen what works and what doesn’t.

“I can’t wait for the chance to show it.”

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