Veteran free-agent defensive lineman Tyson Alualu is signing with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday. Alualu was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars and spent seven seasons with the organization. He then joined the Pittsburgh Steelers and played there for six years. Overall, the 36-year-old has totaled 416 tackles, 25 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 15 passes defended in 191 career games. The Lions have allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards per attempt this season, but stellar defensive tackle Alim McNeill (leg) is dealing with a leg injury.
Tyson Alualu Ruled Out, T.J. Watt Questionable To Return
The Steelers defense has suffered two big injuries on Sunday against the Raiders, with defensive lineman Tyson Alualu ruled out with a fractured ankle and linebacker T.J. Watt questionable to return with a groin injury. Both players are starters on this team, which also entered today without linebacker Devin Bush (groin) and defensive back Joe Haden (groin). Not good for this Steelers defense, which has a lot of talent but is being decimated by injuries so far in 2021.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing free-agent defensive lineman Tyson Alualu to a two-year, $5.5 million deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Alualu will receive $1.925 million guaranteed. Alualu made headlines last week when he changed his mind about signing a two-year, $6 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team that took him in the first round in 2010. Alualu had tested positive for COVID-19, sidelining him for 10 days, and it was then that he changed his mind about leaving Pittsburgh. Teammate Cam Heyward swayed Alualu to stay with the Steelers, according to a source. He's been with the team since 2017, when he signed a two-year, $6 million deal. Alualu was the starting nose tackle on run defense in 2020, appearing in 15 games and playing 44 percent of the defensive snaps. He had 38 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks last year.
