Steelers Sign Running Back/Kick Returner
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers are signing veteran running back and kick returner Raheem Blackshear to their practice squad. Blackshear signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in May of 2022. He spent time on the team’s practice squad. Blackshear signed with the Carolina Panthers on September 21st, 2022. After suffering an injury in the preseason this August, he was released by the Panthers. Blackshear was on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad for one week this September.
Blackshear is five-foot-nine and weighs 190 pounds. He’s played in 41 NFL games throughout his career. He’s totaled 203 rushing yards with a 3.9-yard average, three rushing touchdowns, and 16 receptions for 138 receiving yards. He’s spent the majority of his career snaps on special teams. Over his three seasons with the Panthers, Blackshear amassed 23 punt returns with an 8.7-yard average and 66 kick returns with a 26.3-yard average.
Blackshear played collegiate football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights before transferring to the Virginia Tech Hokies ahead of the 2020 campaign. He made the Academic All-Big Ten list in 2018 and 2019. He was named to the All-ACC Third Team in 2021. Blackshear is a Pennsylvania native. He was born in Philadelphia. He graduated from Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, PA.
The Steelers could move Blackshear from their practice squad to their active roster on game days and give him kick return duties. During the Steelers Week Two game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium, rookie running back Kaleb Johnson made a significant error during a kickoff return that gave the Seahawks an easy touchdown. The Steelers have since taken Johnson off of kick returns and have been using wide receiver Calvin Austin III and running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon for kick returns.
Austin injured his shoulder when the Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings during Week Four in Dublin. He had downtime during the team’s Week Five bye week. However, he still hasn’t returned to practice. The timeline for his recovery is uncertain. Austin said that he is unsure of whether or not he’ll need to be put on injured reserve. If he is unable to play in Week Six, it’s likely that the Steelers will elevate Blackshear.
