The Pittsburgh Steelers needed another tight end with veteran Vance McDonald currently dealing with a shoulder injury and on Tuesday they added one they had their eyes on during this year’s pre-draft process.
According to to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday, the Steelers have signed rookie tight end Alize Mack to their practice squad.
To make room for Mack on the practice squad the Steelers announced that they have released linebacker Robert Spillane.
As a senior, Mack, who was brought in for a pre draft visit earlier thus year after the Steelers attended his pro day, caught 36 passes for 360 yards and three scores for Notre Dame. Standing in at 6’4 249, he turned in a 4.7-second 40-yard-dash at the annual NFL scouting combine. He also registered 36-inch vertical jump and a 10’00” broad jump.
Mack was ultimately selected by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh-round of the NFL Draft. He failed to make the Saints 53-man roster, however, and was quickly signed to the New Orleans practice squad. The Saints released him from their practice squad a few days ago.
Academically ineligible for the 2016 season, Mack was suspended for violation of team rules by Notre Dame for their 2017 bowl game against LSU.
In the 35 games that Mack played during his college career at Notre Dame he registered 68 total receptions for 716 yards and four touchdowns.
