Lawrence

Timmons

The Steelers must have seen something from OLB Jason Worilds in Week 9 that the box score doesn’t show, because he is going to start against the Bengals. Larry Foote will return to the bench as Pittsburgh’s third inside linebacker. Timmons has quite a bit more IDP value when he’s inside as opposed to outside.

The Post-Gazette reported late Sunday that Harrison would likely miss one more game, but he’s apparently recovered better than expected. Harrison has started four games this season, racking up 23 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. His return will allow Lawrence Timmons to move back to inside ‘backer.

The Steelers have saved $11.7 million against the 2012 cap by restructuring Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. Timmons’ base salary was reduced to $700,000, but he’s now due a $6.425 million signing bonus prorated at $1.285 million per over the next five years. The Steelers may not be done restructuring, as they need to free enough space to match offers for Mike Wallace now that the maximum tender for restricted free agents is at the first-round level.

Harrison is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured eye socket, a multi-week injury. Timmons’ move will affect his tackle production, though he should have a few more pass-rush chances. The Steelers’ inside ‘backers will be Larry Foote and James Farrior. Pittsburgh is also banged up at defensive end with Aaron Smith nursing a mid-foot sprain. Ziggy Hood is Smith’s backup.

The hits keep coming for the battered Steelers. Harrison was a shell of himself this season as he struggled to recover from offseason back surgery, but still had two sacks and a forced fumble through four weeks. Now the Steelers will have to shift Lawrence Timmons to right outside linebacker and insert Larry Foote at the “Mack” inside linebacker spot. Jason Worilds is dealing with a groin injury. This defense is not the dominant unit it once was, especially against the run.

Per reporter Albert Breer, the restructuring won’t take place in the form of an extension. Roethlisberger’s current cap number is a prohibitive $19.595 million, $11.6 million of which comes in the form of his base salary. A good chunk of that should be converted to a bonus, which can be prorated over the final three years of his deal. Ben is signed through 2015. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Steelers are also restructuring ILB Lawrence Timmons’ deal.

Timmons was due “just” $5.375 million in 2013, so it would appear his salary has been chopped down to the veteran’s minimum, with the rest of the money being converted to a bonus that will be pro-rated over the final four years of his deal. Per Breer, Ben Roethlisberger is next in line to restructure.

Although Pittsburgh finished without a winning record for the first time in Mike Tomlin’s six-year tenure, it still fielded the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense. Timmons starred, racking up 134 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, 19 QB pressures, and two forced fumbles. Still just 27 -- in May -- Timmons is under contract through 2016. He’ll return as a strong IDP option in 2013.

“I’ve been playing here forever,” he said. “I’ve only been with one franchise. I want to keep it that way.” Set to count $15.1 million against the cap, Timmons looked like a candidate for extension earlier this offseason, but the two sides are “not close.” It looks like Timmons will play out his contract year before deciding his future next spring. If his play continues to dip, the Steelers could move on.

Set to count $15.1 million against the cap in the final year of his deal, it would have made sense for the Steelers to extend Timmons before free agency for cap relief. Now heading into the season, there are not many reasons for the Steelers to push for an extension, especially considering Timmons’ play fell off a cliff last year. It seems likely Timmons will play out the final year of his deal.