After spending his NFL career yo-yoing on and off the Carolina Panthers roster, Eku Leota has joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL team announced on Tuesday that it had signed the former Auburn linebacker and former Theodore High School running back La'Mical Perine for its practice squad.
Pittsburgh signed Leota and Perine as it released linebacker Marcus Haynes and running back Jack Colletto from its practice squad.
Members of the practice squad do everything that players on the active roster do except play in the games. However, each NFL team can elevate two players on its practice squad to active status for each game.
Leota started his NFL career as an undrafted rookie on the Panthers' practice squad last season. But he ended up playing in eight games in 2023 for 77 defensive snaps and 90 special-teams plays.
In Carolina's 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Panthers' 2024 season-opener on Sept. 8, Leota recorded a sack and three tackles for loss. The next week, Leota made his first NFL start in a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
But two days later, the Panthers waived Leota. Carolina re-signed him for its practice squad on Sept. 19, then released him again on Sept. 24.
Perine is back for his second stint with Pittsburgh this year.
Perine's 2023 season ended as a member of Kansas City's practice squad as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII. Perine ran for 77 yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for 33 yards in three regular-season games for Kansas City in 2023. He also played on special teams in three postseason games, but not in the Super Bowl.
After Kansas City released him on May 17, Perine signed with the Steelers on May 23. Pittsburgh released the running back on Aug. 27 as it reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit, and Perine landed on the Green Bay Packers' practice squad. He was with the Packers through the first game of the season before being released on Sept. 10.
A fourth-round draft choice from Florida in 2020, Perine has 340 yards and two touchdowns on 94 rushing attempts and 14 receptions for 96 yards in 17 NFL regular-season games.
Perine was Alabama's Class 7A Back of the Year at Theodore in 2015.
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