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Steelers Bring Back German Edge Rusher
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- Steelers Bring Back German Edge Rusher
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Julius Welschof during practice on Aug. 10, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed outside linebacker Julius Welschof to their practice squad , the team announced on Monday. Welschof was among the Steelers' final roster cuts for the 53-man roster.
16 players are allowed on a NFL practice squad, with the option to carry a 17th player if they are part of the International Player Pathway Program. Welschof, who's from Germany, is the International Player Pathway Program for the Steelers.
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Earlier this month, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated named Welschof as a Steelers sleeper to watch out for.
"If you want a sleeper to file away, German import Julius Welschof has turned heads with his size, strength and length on the edge," Breer wrote. "It'll be tough to find snaps for him behind Watt, Alex Highsmith , Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer , but the staff is eager to keep developing him."
Welschof was not been talked about a lot at training camp, so Breer mentioning him as a sleeper certainly raised eyebrows. He didn't do much in the preseason, either.
Welschof was on the Steelers' practice squad for the entire 2025 season. He wasn't activated for any games.
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In both 2024 and 2025, Welscho was on the Steelers' practice squad as their 17th member and International Exemption. He has not played in an NFL game.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Julius Welschof during practice on Aug. 3, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Steelers signed outside linebacker Julius Welschof to a reserve/future contract in January.
Welschof was on the Steelers' practice squad for the entire 2025 season. He was not elevated tot he 53-man roster for any games.
Welschof, 28, was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the team's preseason finale and then waived two days later with an injury settlement.
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Qualifying for the NFL's international roster exemption as a native of Miesbach, Germany, Welschof then re-signed with Pittsburgh on Nov. 26 and once again to a reserve/future contract following the 2024 season.
Welschof made the most of his limited preseason action last year, registering four tackles and three sacks. Unfortunately, he was unable to do the same this preseason, recording just three tackles, one for a loss and one quarterback hit.
Welschof began has collegiate career at Michigan, where he spent five seasons from 2018-22. After redshirting in 2018, he recorded 25 tackles (10 solo), one sack and one pass defensed, while also contributing on special teams the following four years.
In 2023, he transferred to Charlotte, where he started four games before suffering an injury that would cut his final collegiate season short.
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