Steelers reveal final decision on Melvin Ingram

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released a final decision on linebacker Melvin Ingram for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and he has been officially ruled out.

Saturday moves:
— The #Dolphins ruled out WR Preston Williams and S Sheldrick Redwine and both won’t travel.
— #Steelers LB Melvin Ingram III has been downgraded to out.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2021

Ingram has been bothered by a groin injury recently and listed as doubtful on Friday’s injury report. The team downgraded his status to out on Saturday afternoon. Since Ingram won’t be playing in Sunday’s game, the Steelers promoted Taco Charlton from the practice squad.

Charlton was a first round selection for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. He was signed to the Steelers practice squad in September after being cut by the Chiefs in August.

Ingram has also been upset with his reduced playing time recently, so he might not be playing for the Steelers much longer. The Steelers have reportedly received trade interest for the linebacker.

Check out the tweet below from NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala.

As @RapSheet reported this weekend, OLB Melvin Ingram does indeed want out of Pittsburgh after seeing a reduction in his playing time. I’m told KC made an offer, but the #Steelers ideally don’t want to send him to an AFC team. Could the #Cardinals make a good trade partner?

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) October 28, 2021

In the prime of his career, Ingram was one of the best pass rushers in the league. He’s now 32 years old, and it’s a fair question to ask if he can return to his once dominant form on a consistent basis. The former South Carolina standout has racked up 370 tackles in his 10 years in the NFL thus far.

He’s only started one game in 2021 for the Steelers and he clearly wants to go to a place where he can get more playing time.

Melvin Ingram at South Carolina

Ingram displayed his freakish levels of athleticism when he was at South Carolina and had one of the more incredible fake punt plays by a defensive player in college football history.

Check out the unreal play he made below against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2011.

What's a random football play that you'll always remember?

One for me is Melvin Ingram's fake punt touchdown versus Georgia in 2011: pic.twitter.com/U3vSXaSwSO

— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) February 19, 2021

How many other times do you remember a defensive end taking a fake punt 68 yards for a touchdown? Not many, that’s for certain. That’s not even mentioning he’s over 270 pounds and running that fast with the football. Simply incredible. His 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine was listed at 4.69, but clearly he had more field speed than his forty time.

While he was with the Gamecocks, Ingram demonstrated his top-notch pass rushing ability, racking up 21.5 sacks during his time there. His final two seasons at South Carolina were his most productive years–he racked up 19 sacks in his junior and senior season alone. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2012 NFL Draft with the 18th overall selection. Ingram is a native of Hamlet, North Carolina and attended Richmond County High School.