The Pittsburgh Steelers officially announced on Friday the signing of free agent cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke and placed rookie right guard David DeCastro on the injured reserve list as the designated player to return after 8 weeks.
DeCastro injured his right knee in the Steelers preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and has since had surgery. The new injured reserve rule allows for one player to be designated for return 8 weeks after being placed on the list. DeCastro can begin practicing with the team in 6 weeks time, but once that takes place, the Steelers have 21 days in which to put him back on the 53 man active roster. That move can\’t take place until after the 8 week mark though, but DeCastro can stay on the list as long as he needs to. Once he begins practicing is when the 21 day window opens for him.
Van Dyke was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2011 draft and played he played in 14 games as a rookie, where he started 4 of those. Van Dyke will wear No. 30 and figures to get initial playing time on special teams only. Here is my full scouting report on Van Dyke from this morning if you missed it.
