Steelers trade for safety Wilcox
The Steelers traded for another missing piece — a big safety for their third-down package — when they traded a sixth-round pick in 2018 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for J.J. Wilcox and a seventh-round pick in 2019.
Wilcox, 6-0, 216, came out of Georgia Southern as a third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
After playing wide receiver and returning kicks his first three years in college, Wilcox played safety his final season and spent the next four years in Dallas learning the position.
With the Cowboys, Wilcox started 38 games, made 156 tackles, intercepted five passes, broke up 15, forced two fumbles and played both safety positions and linebacker.
Wilcox signed a two-year deal for $8.5 million with Tampa Bay last March, but was made expendable when the Bucs signed safety T.J. Ward on Saturday.
At Georgia Southern, Wilcox caught 45 passes at 20.0 yards per catch and carried 137 times at 7.0 yards per rush. He also returned 31 punts for a whopping 25.2 average.
He ran a 4.54 40 at the 2013 NFL Combine.
Wilcox has not had any carries or returns in the NFL.
The Steelers added Wilcox to the roster when he reported on Monday.
With starting free safety Mike Mitchell and reserve strong safety Jordan Dangerfield nicked with injuries, the Steelers had only two healthy safeties before making the trade.
They also have a need for the dime linebacker spot that was shared this preseason by 187-pound Will Gay and 184-pound Mike Hilton after 219-pound Daimion Stafford failed to report to training camp.
The Steelers also announced their practice squad on Sunday. All of the players participated with the team at training camp:
Center Kyle Friend, ILB Matt Galambos, S Jacob Hagen, DL Lavon Hooks, OLB Farrington Huguenin, tight end Jake McGee, CB Dashaun Phillips, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, WR Marcus Tucker and WR/RB/RS Justin Thomas.