PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers have signed a free agent tailback and made official the signing of an offensive lineman. Tailback Kalen Ballage and Rashaad Coward each get one-year contracts.
The 25-year-old was a fourth round pick of the Dolphins in 2018 out of Arizona State, playing 24 games in Miami with 6 starts, 326 yards rushing (3.0 average) and 23 receptions for 119 yards (5.2 average).
Ballage played 11 games with two teams in 2020. Rushing for 13 yards on 3 carries with 9 receptions for 67 yards before being released by the Jets. Then signing with the Chargers practice squad, Ballage would start a pair of games, playing in 8 total with LA in 2020. The 6’2”, 231 pounder rushed for 290 yards (3.3 average) and 3 touchdowns. He caught 20 passes for 99 yards.
Steelers love the Senior Bowl and in 2018, Ballage had the fastest maximum speed among running backs at 19.42 MPH. The Colorado native also had 8 total touchdowns (7 rushing, 1 receiving) in a game for the Sun Devils against Texas Tech in 2016.
Ballage joins the current group of running backs-Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland and Jaylen Samuels.
Coward’s signing first reported on Monday after four years and 30 career games with the Bears. While playing mainly guard in the pros, Steelers point out Coward can play tackle as well. The veteran started his pro career as a defensive lineman.