Steelers promote RB Qadree Ollison to active roster
The Steelers have added another running back to the active roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Veteran Qadree Ollison has been elevated, the team announced Saturday morning.
Ollison was signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad at the beginning of the regular season. He enters his fifth season in the NFL, spending the first three years with the Atlanta Falcons (2019-21). The running back was a member of the Dallas Cowboys last year.
Ollison has appeared in 22 career games in the league. He’s totaled 158 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries. The former Pitt standout played in just three contests for the Cowboys last season.
Last week, Ollison was also elevated to the active roster and saw action on special teams against the Browns.
Ollison was a selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Falcons. At Pitt, the running back piled up 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior in 2018. As a freshman in 2015, Ollison rushed for 1,121 yards and 11 scores and earned the ACC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
The Steelers and Raiders go head-to-head on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET and coverage comes on NBC.
NFL rescinds fine on Steelers LB Kwon Alexander
Kwon Alexander won’t see a massive hit to his bank account, after all. The NFL has decided to rescind a fine for the Steelers’ linebacker for a preseason hit on Tampa Bay running back Chase Edmonds.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the NFL rescinded the fine on Friday. It was a fairly hefty amount, totaling $43,709.
Alexander was initially fined for lowering his helmet while making a hit on Edmonds. In real time, it doesn’t appear that there’s much to it. But the NFL places heavy emphasis on player safety, especially when it comes to helmet-to-helmet contact.
Below is video of the preseason hit:
Alexander is a nine-year NFL veteran but is in his first season with the Steelers. He spent last season with the New York Jets and has had stops with the Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.
Through two games this season, Alexander has racked up 17 total tackles, including 15 solo stops. In last week’s victory over the Cleveland Browns, the linebacker tallied nine tackles with one in the backfield.
Pittsburgh is off to a 1-1 start, losing to San Francisco in Week 1.