Steelers Add Free Agent Defensive Back

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed defensive back Henry Black to their practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday.

Black, 26, is in his fourth professional season after coming into the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2020.

The 6-foot, 204-pound safety was most recently with the Indianapolis Colts, who released him from their practice squad on Oct. 24.

Black signed with the Green Bay Packers as a UDFA in 2020 and spent his first two seasons there, playing in 25 games on both defense and special teams. As a rookie in 2020, he played in eight games, mostly on special teams, and recorded eight tackles. The following season, he got more playing time on defense, finishing with 38 tackles over 17 games, and also one forced fumble, two passes defended and an interception. Black played strong safety, free safety and slot cornerback for the Packers.

Green Bay did not retain his rights after the 2021 season and Black signed with the New York Giants. He was waived by New York on July 26, and caught on with the Atlanta Falcons two days later. He spent the 2022 preseason in Atlanta, but was cut after training camp.

The Colts picked him up and he spent all of the 2022 season on the Indianapolis practice squad. He was back with Indy this offseason, but was cut and added to the practice squad after the 2023 preseason.

The Steelers have significant depth issues in the secondary, with starting free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick out the last three weeks with a hamstring injury, co-starting strong safety Keanu Neal is on the injured reserve list with a rib injury and backup free safety and slot corner Elijah Riley is also on IR with a high ankle sprain.

The Steelers promoted Trenton Thompson from the practice squad to the active roster. Thompson started in place of Fitzpatrick and Neal on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Black ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash coming out of Baylor. He projects to be a backup strong safety for the Steelers, backfilling the spot vacated by Thompson.