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Training camp is just around the corner for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they try to bring some certainty to a team full of uncertainty. While they work out, General Manager Omar Khan is still looking for different moves he can make to benefit the team while developing a shortlist of potential replacements in case someone unfortunately gets injured. Judging by his previous comments about how often defensive backs get injured, he's likely putting a lot of time into figuring out who can come in if the worst comes to worst.
A new name just became available for Khan. NFL insider Mike Garafolo announced that free agent safety Jordan Whitehead has officially been cleared for football activities following a scary neck surgery.
Neck injuries should always be taken seriously, so Whitehead will have to prove that this issue will have a 0% chance of being a problem in the foreseeable future. Garafolo did mention that multiple teams are interested in working him out, but it's unclear whether the Steelers are on that list or not. At the very least, it's safe to say that Khan and his staff are doing their homework on him.
Whitehead missed the entire 2025 season due to this severe injury, but he has always been a stable piece to his defenses. During his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets, he consistently allowed completion percentages between roughly 57% and 63% until 2024, where injuries hampered his play even before he injured his neck.
On one hand, this does not seem like someone the Steelers will be very interested in. They have loaded up on safety depth already with multiple big names showing the ability to play that position well. Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage were brought in during the 2026 offseason to help lock that position down while DeShon Elliott is expected to be ready to go to begin the season.
On the other hand, this is a perfect fit. The Steelers have plenty of players with some level of experience at free safety, but they don't have anyone who primarily plays that role like Whitehead does. Jalen Ramsey became the free safety in the middle of the 2025 season, but the Steelers want to use him as more of a "positionless" player rather than putting him back there. That appears to be a big hole in the defense currently.
Savage has the most experience at the position, but his spot on the roster is not guaranteed as he is also trying to show that injuries are not truly a concern for him. The Steelers love the idea of having players that can play multiple roles, but when the game is on the line, they need someone who can inspire confidence in his teammates, coaches, and himself by playing his best at free safety.
Steelers Already Have A Player Who Had A Similar Surgery On The Roster
If Whitehead goes back to his hometown of Pittsburgh, even just for a visit, Asante Samuel Jr. can give him some tips on getting back to form after recovering from surgery. He had spinal surgery to deal with an issue that affected his neck, and he also did extremely well with his recovery. Eventually, the Steelers signed him to the practice squad to get him back on track, and he became a key piece of the defense during the final stretch.
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