The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought back rookie Julius Welschof. After his injury in pre-season preparation, the Miesbach native joined the practice squad of the traditional franchise.
Julius Welschof is back with the Pittsburgh Steelers! The 27-year-old from Miesbach in Bavaria was included in the practice squad of the traditional franchise. The Steelers announced this on Tuesday.
Welschof joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent before the season and delivered in the preseason. However, after positive headlines for his three sacks in the preseason, the outside linebacker injured his knee in September and had to sit out until the end.
Welschof trains alongside Watt and Co.
“They definitely want me back when I’m fit,” the quarterback hunter said back then ran announced and emphasized that he had originally even had hopes of getting one of the 53 squad places: “I definitely had a chance of even making it into the 53-man squad.”
Now Welschof, now injury-free again, is making a new attempt in the team of head coach Mike Tomlin, who personally tried to recruit Welschof after the draft. Star linebacker Alex Highsmith is currently missing from his position group due to injury – with superstar TJ Watt, the up-and-coming Nick Herbig and the recently acquired Preston Smith, Welschof finds himself in one of the best OLB groups in the NFL.
Welschof can still play this season
Welschof occupies a traditional spot on the Steelers’ practice squad. The additional 17th spot for international players is occupied by safety Ayo Oyelola – it tends to be a good sign for Welschof that the Steelers are also filling a normal spot with him.
Players like Oyelola, who fill the additional spot on the practice squad through the International Pathway Program, are not allowed to be “promoted” to the 53-man squad during the regular season.
Late bloomer Welschof, who played for the Munich Cowboys in Munich for four years and went to college in the USA late, can still have hopes of making his NFL debut this season.
