The Pittsburgh Steelers have re-signed linebacker Steven Johnson, the team announced moments ago. Johnson was previously scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the 2017 league year in March.
Financial terms of the deal were not immediately announced though it stands to reason he signed for the veteran minimum. Last year Johnson received a $25,000 signing bonus and his contract called for him to get another $55,000 bonus if he made the initial 53-man roster out of training camp.
Johnson will likely receive a non-guaranteed base salary of $775,000 in 2017 in addition to another small signing bonus that will allow him to qualify for the NFL minimum salary benefit and thus a reduced salary cap charge.
Johnson was signed last offseason as an unrestricted free agent after playing one season with the Tennessee Titans as a core special teamer. He was left off the immediate 53 man roster but brought back on in the following days, carving out a role on special teams before breaking in ankle on a freak collision in November. He was placed on IR two days later. Johnson ended the year with six total tackles.
He’ll return to compete for a roster spot in a deep inside linebacker group in 2017, especially if Lawrence Timmons is re-signed.
