Calvin Anderson Trade with Steelers as new OT and will play against…..see more
Calvin Anderson might not have been familiar with the Pittsburgh Steelers upon signing with them this week, but the offensive tackle has had positive interactions with a high-profile former Steelers assistant.
Brought in to be the Steelers’ “swing tackle,” Anderson said he learned how to effectively serve as the backup on both sides of the line from former popular Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak.
“I was blessed when I came into the league to be working with Mike Munchak, one of my favorite coaches,” Anderson said before practice Wednesday. “And he had me playing both sides (left and right tackle) from when I starting playing. And I feel comfortable doing that. Whatever I can help the team, that’s what I am going to focus on doing.”
Munchak was the Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2014-18, and he served in that role for the Denver Broncos from 2019-21. Anderson’s tenure with the Broncos overlapped Munchak’s.
With two tackles currently on injured reserve (Troy Fautanu, Dylan Cook) and another tackle-capable player (Spencer Anderson) currently serving as the starter at left guard while the veteran atop the depth chart there (Isaac Seumalo) deals with injury, the Steelers sought reinforcement at tackle.
They found it in Anderson, a veteran of 46 NFL regular-season games and 14 starts – some each at left and right tackle.
The 6-5, 305-pound Anderson, 28, hopped on the proverbial moving train after being released via an injury settlement by the New England Patriots at the conclusion of the preseason.
“One of the requirements of playing at this level in the NFL, everything moves fast so you’ve got to be able to adapt quick, and that’s part of it,” Anderson said. “You’ve gotta roll with it. Came here, my wife is still back in Massachusetts so we will get her here soon so I will just focus on getting acclimated as soon as possible.”
Henderson added
Cory Trice landing on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury led to the Wednesday signing of veteran C.J. Henderson.
Henderson, 25, is a former No. 9 overall draft pick, by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He was traded 16 months later, though, to the Carolina Panthers. In 2022 and 2023, he was a part-time starter there alongside current Steelers starting cornerback Donte Jackson.
With Trice unavailable, Henderson enters the week with a chance to compete against James Pierre (signed last week) and Darius Rush for the role as top backup outside cornerback to starters Jackson and Joey Porter Jr.
