Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers Activate Controversial Safety Ahead of 2024 Postseason

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Andre Ifill | Last updated 1/10/24

The Pittsburgh Steelers got the help that they needed on the final Sunday of the regular season, clinching the AFC’s final playoff spot as a result. Their reward is a date in Buffalo with the AFC East-champion Bills. The end of the regular season also means that punishments meant to end a player’s regular season are no longer in effect. That benefits the Steelers’ secondary, which lost a starting safety to a suspension in Week 15.

Damontae Kazee earned a suspension for the final three games of the regular season after a hit that he laid on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. That hit alone didn’t do it, as the league office cited multiple health and safety violations committed by the Pittsburgh Steelers safety. Kazee had already been fined five times for $59,030 before the Pittman Jr. play. Kazee’s regular season suspension cost him over $200,000 worth of salary.

Kazee, in his second season with the Steelers, started in nine of the 14 games he played. He finished the year with 61 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Now, he can make an impact for the Steelers in the postseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are Still Missing Their Defensive Star

While Pittsburgh’s pursuit for a seventh Super Bowl brings back one defensive starter, another crucial piece of the puzzle is unavailable. T.J. Watt has already been ruled out for this game, which won’t help the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. Watt led the NFL with 19.0 sacks. He became the first player to ever lead the league in sacks three times, and every instance was within the past four seasons. Getting Damontae Kazee back is nice, but the Steelers still have an uphill battle on Sunday afternoon.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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