Report: Kansas City Chiefs tried to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers defender

The Kansas City Chiefs are in desperate need of defensive help and looked to find it in the form of Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram.

The Chiefs made the Steelers an offer for Melvin Ingram, but the Steelers would prefer not to trade him to another AFC team per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network. The veteran pass-rusher, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers, visited the Chiefs during the 2021 free agency period but ultimately chose to sign with the Steelers on a one-year, $4 million contract.

Ingram, currently in his first season with the Steelers, wants out after seeing a reduction in his playing time due to the emergence of Alex Highsmith, per Kikhabwala. Melvin Ingram played in over 85% of the Steelers defensive snaps in two of the first three games. In two of the Steelers last three games, Ingram played under 50% of defensive snaps, including just 26% of snaps in Pittsburgh’s Week 6 win over the Seahawks.’

Kansas City sits at a disappointing 3-4 through seven games, largely due to poor defensive performance. The Chiefs defense ranks last in the league in yards per play, allowing 6.6. They rank among the bottom five in total yards allowed, first downs allowed and points allowed.

This season, Melvin Ingram has recorded 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Prior to the season, Ingram spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Chargers. In his career, Ingram has recorded 370 tackles, 72 tackles for loss, 50 sacks and 14 forced fumbles.

Pittsburgh started the season 1-3 but turned things around in Week Five with a win over the Denver Broncos. An overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football brought the team back to .500 on the season. With 11 games remaining after the bye, the Steelers have plenty opportunities to break into the playoff picture, including five division games.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took full advantage of the early bye week, rehabbing from the bumps and bruises he suffered in the opening weeks. He now looks to build on the Steelers’ two-game win streak with a divisional matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

“It was very nice to have some time to rest, relax and get it back,” Roethlisberger said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

The Steelers offense was ravaged by injuries early this season. Star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is out for the season and several offensive linemen continue dealing with injury management throughout the week.