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Pittsburgh Steelers release former Alabama cornerback

The Pittsburgh Steelers released Anthony Averett on Tuesday, dealing a setback to the former Alabama cornerback's comeback attempt.

After an injury-plagued 2022 season, Averett appeared on the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions rosters in 2023, but did not play a single regular season game last year.

Averett had been a free agent since the Lions released him from their practice squad on Nov. 14 when he signed with the Steelers on May 12. Averett was signed to a contract with Pittsburgh after attending the team's rookie minicamp for a tryout.

Averett played 41 defensive snaps and one special teams play in Pittsburgh's preseason opener and recorded two tackles and a pass breakup in a 20-12 loss to the Houston Texans on Aug. 9. But Averett was on the field for just seven defensive snaps and six special teams plays in a 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He recorded one tackle in the Week 2 preseason game.

Averett, a veteran starter for Alabama's CFP national championship team in the 2017 season, entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 draft.

Averett spent most of his first three seasons as a backup with the Ravens, with his defensive snaps increasing from 71 in 2018 to 220 in 2019 and 354 in 2020.

Averett took over a starting position when Marcus Peters was injured in the second game of the 2021 season. Averett's performance in 14 starts in Baltimore's defensive backfield included his three NFL interceptions and earned him a one-year, $4 million contract from the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent.

Averett left the 2022 season opener with a broken thumb. He returned to the field for Game 6 and had started at cornerback and free safety before leaving again after six games with a broken toe sustained in a 40-34 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks. He missed the rest of the season and then remained on the free agent market until August 3, 2023, when the 49ers signed him.

On August 11, 2023, Averett was placed on the injured list due to an unspecified condition, and a week later, San Francisco released him with compensation for his injury. Averett joined Detroit's practice squad on October 10 for a five-week stint.

Averett has played in 51 regular season games and three playoff games in his NFL career.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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