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The Steelers have announced that they have traded Melvin Ingram III, an outside linebacker, to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2022 sixth round draft pick. This was before Tuesday's 2021 NFL trade deadline.
Ingram confirmed that he was moving to CBS Sports' Josina Andersen. Ian Rapoport, of the NFL Network, provided additional details:
In July, the 32-year old edge-rusher signed a $4 million contract for one year with Pittsburgh. The organization only allowed him to make six appearances.
Ingram was once one of the NFL's best pass-rushers. Ingram recorded 43 sacks over the five-year span of 2015 to 2019, which included at least seven sacks each season. During that period (2017-19), he was selected for three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
Despite being a University of South Carolina graduate, he did not record any sacks in seven games last season for the Bolts. He also spent two seasons on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
While there were some promising signs in his brief stay in Pittsburgh, he didn't seem like the game-changing star he was for L.A. He had 10 tackles and one sack, as well as one pass defensed for the Steelers.
Ingram was only 26 percent of the team’s defensive snaps during a Week 6 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Ingram also missed Sunday's win against the Cleveland Browns after suffering a groin injury.
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh's head coach, said that the linebacker was absent from Friday's practice because of an injury and not discontent over his diminished role.
Tomlin said that he had spoken to Melvin but would not discuss those with him. "His groin is the reason he didn’t work today."
Ingram will now try to boost a Chiefs pass rush, which has been one reason for the team’s slow start to 2021. Their eight-game record of 11 sacks is the worst in the league.
Kansas City, which has reached the Super Bowl in the past two seasons is currently at 4-4. They are on the outside looking into the AFC playoff picture. It wouldn't surprise to see them make another move before the deadline, hoping for a spark.
The Chiefs will next face the Green Bay Packers (7-1), on Sunday. Ingram's groin injury is still a concern.
