Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker prospect Jacoby Windmon was poached off the practice squad by the Carolina Panthers on October 15, according to KPRC2 NFL insider Aaron Wilson.
Although Windmon spent the entire summer program with the Steelers after initially entering the organization as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan State, he only signed to the Pittsburgh practice squad a couple of weeks ago on October 2.
At just 23 years old, Windmon offered versatility and potential. Per Steelers Depot writer Ross McCorkle, he “primarily” played inside linebacker with Pittsburgh throughout the preseason, but also received a few looks at outside linebacker and on special teams.
His best preseason outing was the first one according to Pro Football Focus, as Windmon earned a top 10 grade for all UDFA rookies around the league with a 90.0 out of 100. The youngster finished the preseason period with 3 key defensive stops, 7 solo tackles and 4 tackle assists on PFF, but he was also charged with 4 missed tackles and 1 reception allowed for 9 yards.
Overall, it was a pretty strong showing from Windmon, particularly in coverage. Despite not making the initial Steelers practice squad, the rookie did enough to stay fresh in general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin’s minds.