Steelers Waive Physical Rookie Linebacker

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released linebacker Jacoby Windmon, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. There was a logjam at inside linebacker with Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts, Mark Robinson, Payton Wilson and Tyler Matakevich, so Windmon’s release doesn’t come as a surprise. He could be a potential practice squad candidate, however.

Windmon is a Marrero, Louisiana native who played three years at UNLV before transferring to Michigan State. He was a second-team All-Mountain West selection in 2021, when he posted his best statistical season of 119 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defended.

After transferring to Michigan State, he started eight games in 2022 before being suspended the final four games after taking part in a fight between Michigan and Michigan State players in the tunnel at Michigan Stadium.

In 2023, he returned to MSU, but played just three games before being lost to the season for a pectoral injury. He had another season of college eligibility remaining, and first announced that he was entering the transfer portal, before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft in January.

In the pre-draft process, Windmon ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and showed decent agility but poor explosiveness and strength, posting a low 16 bench press reps and a 5.68 out of 10 overall Relative Athletic Score. He was not expected to be drafted and was the No. 501 overall player in the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.