According to the NFL's transactions page, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released tight end Xavier Grimble from the reserved/injured list with an injury settlement.
Grimble signed a one-year, $2 million restricted free-agent deal in the offseason. According to Over The Cap, releasing him did not incur a dead-cap fee for the Steelers.
Grimble entered training camp as Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver behind Vance McDonald. He started the season in the same way, then a calf injury, suffered in Week 3, did him in. After an injury to McDonald (shoulder), the Steelers fortified their depth by acquiring Nick Vannett from the Seattle Seahawks; essentially deeming Grimble as the third-stringer on injured reserve.
Grimble stuck with the Steelers in 2016 after spending 2015 with their practice squad. He found himself as the team's third-string tight end for most of his time in Pittsburgh. In 47 career games, he has recorded 23 receptions for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
“This is a team that really wanted me,” Grimble told Dale Lolley of DK Pittsburgh Sports this week. “They really valued me. I like it here, so far.”
With Grimble out of the picture, the Steelers will move forward with McDonald and Vannett as their No. 1 and No. 2 tight ends. Rookie fifth-round pick Zach Gentry will take over Grimble's spot as the third-stringer while he develops.
Grimble is free to sign with any team following his release. He will also make some money from the Steelers in 2019, as the injury settlement often means that the released player earns game checks for the contests he would've been able to play in.
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