Head coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers signed safety Jack Henderson to their practice squad.
The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to be in the market for another defensive back during their bye week. To begin preparation for the Cleveland Browns on Monday, the Steelers announced signing former undrafted safety Jack Henderson to their practice squad.
In addition to the Browns, the Steelers will also face the Cincinnati Bengals over the next 10 days.
Henderson went undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft. Over the past five months, he has spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers released Henderson on September 23.
Before the 2025 NFL Draft, SB Nation’s The Daily Gopher’s Andy York argued Henderson could be a quality depth addition for an NFL team due to multiple reasons.
“Henderson’s 39.5-inch vertical and 10-8 broad jump helped him post an elite composite explosion grade,” York wrote. “He has the football smart as well.
His 6-foot-2, 208-pound frame is slightly undersized for an NFL strong safety, but his hybrid ability makes him an intriguing add to an NFL camp’s roster.
Henderson posted 103 combined tackles in 26 games for Minnesota. As a senior last year, he had six sacks, nine tackles for loss and one interception.
Steelers Sign Safety Jack Henderson to Practice Squad
The Steelers have added Henderson as insurance with a few questions in their secondary entering Week 6.
Former All-Pro defensive back Jalen Ramsey suffered a hamstring injury on September 28 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac suggested on September 29 that Ramsey could need a stint on injured reserve. If the Steelers place Ramsey on IR, he will miss the next four games.
The Steelers didn’t update Ramsey’s status during their bye week.
Veteran cornerback Brandin Echols also left Week 4 with an injury. Furthermore, Joey Porter Jr. missed his third consecutive game against the Vikings.
Of course, Henderson plays safety, not cornerback. So, the former Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back won’t really provide depth for those injuries.
But it’s unsurprising the Steelers signed a safety to begin this week. The team hosted several safeties for workouts during the bye week, including former New England Patriots safety Mark Perry.
The Buccaneers poached undrafted rookie safety Sebastian Castro from the Steelers practice squad on September 30. Henderson will be a direct replacement for Castro.
Henderson will join the Steelers practice squad that includes three other defensive backs — Beanie Bishop Jr., D’Shawn Jamison and Daryl Porter.
Steelers Safety Depth Entering Week 6
As previously mentioned, the Steelers have questions in their secondary with two AFC North battles looming. But safety is in a strong spot for Pittsburgh entering Week 6.
The team’s top safety DeShon Elliott returned in Week 4 to face the Vikings. The unit’s other starting safety, Juan Thornhill, and their depth players at the position, Chuck Clark, Miles Killebrew and Jabrill Peppers, are all healthy as well.
The Steelers signed Peppers after Elliott suffered a knee injury during Week 1. Killebrew can play on defense, but he’s mostly a special teams ace.
Last season at Minnesota, Henderson also had one pass defense and one forced fumble. He registered two interceptions and five tackles for loss as a junior in 2023.
Henderson began his college career at Southeastern Louisiana. Over three seasons, he posted 163 combined tackles and six interceptions in 33 games.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
