PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As the Steelers traded a fifth round pick for linebacker Avery Williamson on Sunday night, it wasn’t for him to be a starter; at least not now.
“From a long-term standpoint we have a vision of him being a third inside linebacker,” said head coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday. “A guy that’s position flexible. A guy that’s capable of supporting Robert (Spillane) and Vince (Williams) and being available if anything would happen to either.”
This after Spillane returned an interception for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and led the Steelers in tackles against the Ravens on Sunday.
“At the trade deadline we thought it was necessary if we had an opportunity to get a known commodity, one like Avery Williamson, that we are somewhat familiar with, and somewhat familiar with our schematics and put him in the fold with as much ball as we have that lies ahead, it was a prudent thing for us to do. We are excited about having him,” Tomlin said.
It became the prudent thing to do after a season-ending injury to starting inside linebacker Devin Bush and a recent back injury for back-up, and unproven, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert.
Tomlin had met Williamson before, at Kentucky teammate Bud Dupree’s pro day in Lexington.
“He’s a football lover, a football junkie if you will,” Tomlin said. “Followed him throughout the course of his career. At the early stages of his career he played down in Tennessee and played in a system of defense that is very similar to ours. Not only in terms of how it was constructed but the language itself.”
Williamson won’t be able to be on field with his new team until Saturday due to COVID-19 rules. Tomlin said the 28-year-old will be with them remotely until then.
Judging by Williamson’s social media, he’s excited to join the Steelers and Tomlin seems happy to have more depth at the position.