The Steelers yesterday made a major move on the offensive line, releasing six-time Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro and signing former five-time Pro Bowler Trai Turner.
DeCastro attended mandatory minicamp last week but did not participate. Several sources said he was nursing a chronic ankle injury, and the Steelers officially designated his release as due to a non-football injury.
DeCastro was the Steelers’ 2012 number-one draft pick. He started 124 games for them and was All-Pro for three straight seasons from 2015 to 2017. His departure means three mainstays on the offensive line are now gone from the Steelers. Center Maurkice Pouncey retired and tackle Alejandro Villanueva signed with Baltimore after the Steelers declined to pursue him in free agency.
Trai Turner was Carolina’s third round draft pick in 2014. He made the Pro Bowl with them five times before being traded prior to last season to the Chargers, where he missed seven of the first eight games due to injury. He visited the Steelers last Friday and says he is healthy now. He signed a one-year deal.
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