Tag: Keanu Neal

Steelers release S Keanu Neal with failed physical designation

The Steelers are rebuilding their safety depth chart.

The rebuild of the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary has begun. The process began last season at cornerback and now the Steelers turn to safety. This week the Steelers announced they had released veteran safety Keanu Neal with a failed physical designation.

Neal was signed in the 2023 offseason to help bolster the defense. Neal started eight games but missed the back half of the season with a rib injury. His release saves the Steelers $2.5 million in salary cap.

The Steelers also have safeties Miles Killebrew and Elijah Riley set to hit free agency. Thankfully, the list of talented veteran free agents is long and Pittsburgh should have no issues in upgrading the depth chart.

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Former Falcons safety Keanu Neal released by Steelers

Former Falcons safety Keanu Neal was released by the Pittsbugh Steelers following a failed physical

It’s a bad week to play safety in the National Football League. Some of the best players at the position, including Justin Simmons, Jordan Poyer and Kevin Byard, have been released over the last few days as teams look to create cap space before the start of the new league year.

Even former Falcons safety Keanu Neal lost his job on Thursday morning. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers released Neal after a failed physical:

Neal, 28, was drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. His career got off to a promising, making the Pro Bowl in 2017 before suffering brutal injuries in 2018 and 2019. Neal first tore his ACL, then his Achilles tendon in consecutive seasons.

Atlanta eventually parted ways with Neal in 2021 and he would go on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next three seasons.

The Falcons could in the market for a safety this offseason and there are some intriguing options. Have a look at some of the top available names below.

Steelers 2024 offseason roster – Safeties

Here is a look at the Steelers current group of safeties.

Last season the safety position was a nightmare for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Much like inside linebacker, the Steelers were hit hard with losses at safety which often forced some unusual pairings in the secondary.  Here is a look at the safeties on the roster heading into free agency.

Adam Gotsis fined $7,167 for unpenalized hit on Steelers’ Kenny Pickett

The unpenalized hit from Adam Gotsis that injured Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett earned the Jaguars lineman a fine.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Adam Gotsis received a $7,167 fine for his unpenalized hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in Week 8.

The hit from Gotsis resulted in a ribs injury for Pickett that caused the Pittsburgh quarterback to miss the rest of the game.

After the game, Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson blamed officials for his team’s 20-10 loss to the Jaguars, telling reporters that “every little call” went Jacksonville’s way.

Steelers safety Damontae Kazee received two fines of $11,806 each for unnecessary roughness on a pair of plays that happened on the same second quarter drive for Jacksonville. Both plays were unpenalized.

The only roughing the passer penalty of the game was called on the Steelers’ Keanu Neal, but that play didn’t result in a fine.

Pittsburgh pass rusher T.J. Watt earned the biggest fine of the game, $16,391, for a hit to the face of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that was also unpenalized.

The relatively small fine for Gotsis is only the second time this season that a Jaguars player has been docked pay for a game-related rules violation. The only other time was a $5,611 fine for defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter for a hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 5.

Through eight weeks, the Jaguars are the third least penalized team in the NFL behind only the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles.

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The Steelers’ Keanu Neal got the worst roughing the passer call after a routine hit on Trevor Lawrence

What the heck is Keanu Neal supposed to do here???

Playing defense in the 2023 NFL isn’t easy. Even with defenses seemingly thriving better than ever, a lot of rules are skewed greatly in favor of protecting offensive skill players.

Keanu Neal had an awful reminder of this reality against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

On an early key third down, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety pressured Trevor Lawrence and made what appeared to be a routine form tackle. That was not the officials’ interpretation. They penalized Neal with an erroneous roughing the passer call. (Lawrence did complete the pass to Christian Kirk anyway, but it’s about the principle!)

And the more I watch it, I’m really unsure what Neal was supposed to do differently because that is a classic football hit — exactly the way it’s taught.

I understand that officials will (rightfully) err on the side of caution and give defenders less of the benefit of the doubt. It’s probably one of the main ways to keep pro football solvent and safe enough in the modern era. But horrible calls like this on Neal still stand out like sore thumbs.

Bucs free agent Keanu Neal signs with Steelers

Safety depth for the Bucs becomes even more pressing.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Keanu Neal is signing a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to GSE Football’s David Canter. Neal had played with the Bucs last season as a rotational safety.

Neal was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. After a hot start his first two years, injuries all but robbed Neal of his third and fourth seasons and derailed his career. He ended up leaving Atlanta in 2021 and signing with the Dallas Cowboys, following former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn.

Neal was a major part of the Bucs’ safety rotation last season, playing 52% of defensive snaps. He was not much of a difference maker, making 63 tackles including two for a loss while missing 16.9% of his tackles. Neal has never been consistent in coverage and that did not change in Tampa.

The Bucs are now down two safeties from 2022 and have yet to add any in free agency, indicating they may be targeting them in the draft.

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Eagles hosted versatile safety Keanu Neal on a free agent visit

Looking to add more depth at the safety position, the Philadelphia Eagles hosted veteran Keanu Neal on a visit

The Eagles added Justin Evans on a one-year deal but are looking to add even more depth at safety, hosting Keanu Neal on a visit Field Yates is reporting.

Neal has recently played linebacker and safety positions with the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Cowboys.

In 2022, Neal logged 63 tackles in 17 games (8 starts), with two tackles for loss, one interception, and four passes defended.

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Bucs S Keanu Neal (hip) questionable to return vs. Falcons

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have to finish Week 18 without one of their veteran safeties

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have to finish Week 18 without one of their veteran safeties.

Keanu Neal left Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons with a hip injury, and he’s officially questionable to return.

Mike Edwards was already inactive for Sunday’s game, so the Bucs will be thin on the back end of the secondary if Neal can’t return.

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WATCH: Carlton Davis III grabs tip-drill INT off Joe Burrow

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started off Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a huge takeaway on defense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been starved for takeaways on defense, but they’re starting things off with one Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Safety Keanu Neal tipped a Joe Burrow pass into the air and into the waiting arms of cornerback Carlton Davis III for the interception on the first drive of the game.

After a few quick first downs for Cincinnati, the Bucs defense has provided a huge play to help turn the momentum back in their favor, and set up Tom Brady and the offense for a chance to respond on the scoreboard.

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Report: Bucs S Keanu Neal out for rest of preseason with injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Keanu Neal will reportedly miss the remainder of the 2022 season due to injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Keanu Neal will miss the remainder of the 2022 preseason with an undisclosed injury, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Neal suffered the injury during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. He left practice with what appeared to be an arm injury, per Pewter Report.

After signing a one-year deal with the Bucs in free agency, Neal is expected to provide experienced depth for the back end of Tampa Bay’s secondary. According to Stroud, the Bucs are hoping he’ll be back to full strength by the time the regular season starts.

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