Safety Jabrill Peppers officially joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, but he wasn’t the only player added to the 53-man roster.
Cornerback James Pierre was signed from the practice squad, and the Steelers placed two players on injured reserve.
Linebacker Malik Harrison and quarterback Skylar Thompson were added to the IR and must each miss at least the next four games. Harrison was injured in the second half Sunday in the Steelers’ season-opening 34-32 victory against the New York Jets. Thompson, the team’s No. 3 quarterback, hurt his hamstring in practice last week.
With rookie quarterback Will Howard also on injured reserve, the Steelers signed quarterback Logan Woodside to the practice squad. Woodside joined the Steelers in training camp after Howard broke a finger on his throwing hand, and he was among the initial roster cuts.
Peppers will wear No. 40 for the Steelers. A ninth-year veteran who was a former first-round pick out of Michigan, Peppers spent the past three seasons with the New England Patriots and served as a team captain, but he was surprisingly released in late August.
Pierre is a member of the Steelers special teams and was elevated from the practice squad for the season opener. He played 11 snaps — all on special teams — against the Jets.
The Steelers signed Harrison to a two-year, $10 million contract in free agency, and he was working as a backup at inside and outside linebacker. He played four snaps on defense and 16 on special teams in the opener.
