PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We heard a lot of ‘coming back from an ACL’ reasoning or even empty praise for the play of linebacker Devin Bush last season. We found out what the Steelers really think of Bush Monday afternoon declining his fifth-year option.
Bush started every game he was available for last season, finishing with 70 tackles, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in 14 games. Those numbers not good enough or encouraging enough for the Steelers to pick up an affordable $10.9 million contract for 2023.
While much of the 2021 early season was attributed to returning from an ACL injury suffered in a game in October of 2020, the first big clue to their dissatisfaction came when then-Steelers Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler told us in December Bush would be in a rotation of linebackers. A major statement given they were fighting for a playoff birth in their franchise quarterback’s final season.
“We need for him to get better for us to be any good,” Butler said of Bush during the stretch run of the season.
Bush finished with 19 tackles combined in his last four games with no tackles for loss and three passes defended. The former Michigan star started the playoff game against Kansas City and did have an interception to go with ONE solo tackle.
If you are looking for draft needs in 2023 already, look at middle linebacker. Only Myles Jack and Buddy Johnson (2021 fourth-round pick) will be under contract and it will be the final year of Jack’s deal.