Montravius

Adams Sr.

The Steelers made Adams a cap casualty this offseason. The former third-rounder spent the last three seasons with the Steelers, totaling 64 tackles, one sack and five TFLs. Adams started 17 of the 41 games he appeared in over that span, and would likely serve as a rotational player for the Bengals if signed.

Adams was signed by the Steelers off the Saints’ practice squad during the 2021 season and signed a two-year deal the following offseason. A former third-round pick from the 2017 draft, Adams has appeared in 96 games during his eight-year career while making 25 starts. He totaled 14 tackles and one sack in 11 games last season and quickly became expendable after the Steelers selected Oregon DT Derrick Harmon in the first round of last week’s draft. Adams could still provide value as added depth on a roster, but his days as a starter are likely over.

Highsmith’s long-awaited return is here. The talented front-seven defender should make an immediate impact, both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. The team will have to wait for another week to get DT Montravius Adams Sr. (knee) back from injured reserve but he promisingly practiced in full on Thursday and Friday this week.

His 21-day window will open and he was spotted practicing on Wednesday. Adams will be a part of the DL rotation for the Steelers this week assuming there are no setbacks on Thursday or Friday.

He left Week 7’s game against the Jets with the knee injury and did not return. Adams had played in all seven Steelers games this year, notching one sack and five solo tackles in the interior. He’ll miss at least the next four games.

Adams just finished up a two-year deal he signed during 2022 free agency and the Steelers have decided they would like another with the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Strictly a rotational early-down lineman, Adams hasn’t registered a sack since 2018.

Adams signed with the Patriots last offseason but was cut before the years started. He then signed with New Orleans and played five games for them before being released. Pittsburgh signed him off their practice squad to close the year. Adams gives the Steelers a depth option on the defensive line but is unlikely to start in 2022.

Johnson, a 16 game starter for the Vikings last year, wasn’t needed after Minnesota added Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson this offseason. He signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Houston before getting released at final cuts. With DT David Onyemata suspended six games, the 27-year-old will serve as depth for the Saints, who also signed DT Montravius Adams.

The Packers’ No. 93 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft joins a raft of players entering New England during the team’s nonstop free agency signing binge. Adams played in eight games for Green Bay in 2020, recording 11 tackles and zero sacks. He’ll likely be a rotational player for the Patriots in 2021.

Adams was arrested on three misdemeanor counts including possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, driving without insurance, and having a suspended/canceled/revoked vehicle registration. According to the Georgia police report, Adams was pulled over for driving on an expired registration but was discovered with less than an ounce of marijuana in his possession upon having his vehicle searched with probable cause. The team has yet to release a statement.