With tight end Jake McGee and offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins both suffering serious injuries last week, the Steelers had two holes, if you want to call them that, on their 90-man offseason roster.
They filled them Tuesday, signing veteran offensive tackle Bryce Harris and tight end Ryan Malleck, placing McGee and Hawkins on the Reserve/Injured list, ending their seasons.
Harris, 29, was signed as a rookie by Atlanta in 2012 and has appeared in 38 games. But the Steelers also are his seventh team in seven seasons.
He is expected to be in the competition for the team's third offensive tackle spot with veteran Matt Feiler and rookie third-round draft pick Chukes Okorafor.
“It’s a good opportunity,’’ Harris said. “Every year you play in the NFL is life-changing. I mean, where are you going to make that kind of money somewhere else? And I love the game.”
Harris, a Fresno State graduate, has made four career starts, all with New Orleans. He also made 38 of his 39 career appearances with the Saints, for whom he played from 2012-2014 and again last season.
Malleck, who played collegiately at Virginia Tech, spent time with the Steelers last offseason after initially signing as an undrafted rookie by the Giants in 2016. He was released last May and spent time on the practice squads of Baltimore and Houston, eventually seeing time on the Texans' active roster in December.