Thomas Rush, an outside linebacker with the Tennessee Titans, signed a reserve/future deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. Rush never appeared in a game during his two seasons with the Titans. Rather, he played in six preseason games and remained on the team’s practice squad for the full two years.
Over the past several years, the Steelers have favored small outside linebackers like Rush as they chase speed rushers like Nick Herbig. He has a lot of explosiveness because he is 6′ 3 and 251 pounds.
Rush’s explosiveness was supported by a 33.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-3 broad jump. Rush, a Minnesota native and undrafted free agent, was a standout player for the Golden Gophers for his whole career, recording 5.5 sacks as a junior.
Rush, Eku Leota, and Julius Welschof have given the Steelers a long list of depth outside linebackers. After obtaining outside linebacker Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers, the organization is probably going to release him, while Jeremiah Moon is a restricted free agent.
