Mar 25, 2016 2 min read

After losing special-teams stalwarts Terence Garvin, Sean Spence and Antwon Blake last week in free agency, the Steelers needed a veteran to help stabilize that unit.

They addressed that Friday, signing free-agent linebacker Steven Johnson to a one-year contract.

Johnson, 27, is a four-year veteran who spent his first three seasons in Denver before playing for Tennessee in 2015. He has played in 57 career games, making seven starts – all for Denver in 2014 – and recording 57 tackles and a half-sack.

The 6-1, 237-pound inside linebacker has done his best work on special teams. He had seven special teams tackles and recovered a pair of fumbles for the Titans.

His presence on the Steelers’ special teams is much needed after the losses of Garvin and Spence, a pair of inside linebackers, and Blake, a cornerback. Those three combined for 14 special-teams tackles last season, including nine by Garvin.

Garvin signed with Washington, and Spence and Blake both signed with the Titans.

The Steelers are likely to lose special-teams regulars Will Allen and Brandon Boykin, both of whom are unrestricted free agents.

Earlier this week, the Steelers brought in two other solid special-teams players for a visit, Spencer Paysinger of Miami and Mike Morgan of Seattle. Both, like Johnson, are inside linebackers.

The signing of Johnson leaves the Steelers approximately $2 million under the salary cap. Pittsburgh has previously signed unrestricted free agent tight end Lardarius Green and offensive tackle Ryan Harris.