Mar 9, 2017 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Steelers got the backup quarterback they wanted.

But Landry Jones might not be the backup quarterback many fans wanted for Ben Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh re-signed Jones, its primary backup to Roethlisberger the past two seasons, on Thursday to a two-year, $4.4-million deal, keeping the 27-year-old from testing the free agent market.

Jones has made four starts over the past two seasons in place of Roethlisberger, with the Steelers going 2-2 in those games. He has completed 85 of 141 passes for 1,071 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. His career passer rating is 82.8, including an 86.3 rating last season.

The Steelers had made re-signing Jones one of their top priorities.

“He has a very good understanding of our offense,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of Jones during the season. “He is a good communicator. It’s part of the functions of being a backup quarterback, the talking of schematics and the seeing of what is on the field and the communicating of such. He has grown in a lot of ways in that area in the last several years.”

Roethlisberger, 35, said at the end of last season that he was unsure if he would return for 2017, but the Steelers are confident that he will. But the team could still be in the market for an eventual replacement, which could happen in this year’s draft.

The re-signing of Jones means whatever young quarterback is signed will compete with veteran Zach Mettenberger for the No. 3 job.

Jones was one of two veterans re-signed by the Steelers Thursday as the new league year began at 4 p.m.

Tight end/fullback David Johnson was signed to a two-year deal, keeping a versatile backup with the team.

Johnson, 29, appeared in 16 games with the Steelers in 2016, starting five. He finished with seven receptions for 80 yards.

Perhaps just as important, Johnson served as the team’s defacto fullback in the early portion of the season when starter Roosevelt Nix was out with a back injury.

Johnson broke into the NFL in 2009 with the Steelers but left in free agency following the 2013 season, signing with San Diego. After spending two seasons with the Chargers, he returned to Pittsburgh last season.

The Steelers have spoken with the agent of linebacker Lawrence Timmons and last week signed linebacker James Harrison to a two-year deal. They also have tendered offers to restricted free agent cornerback Ross Cockrell and Chris Hubbard.

Meanwhile, free agent wide receiver Markus Wheaton agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bears. Wheaton, 26, had 107 receptions for 1,508 yards in four seasons with the Steelers but was injured for much of last year.

Linebacker Jarvis Jones, safety Shamarko Thomas, offensive lineman Cody Wallace and running back DeAngelo Williams join Timmons and Landry Jones also are eligible to sign elsewhere.

“I would be shocked if they all didn’t want to stay,” Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said. “They all want to test the market and see what else is out there. And that’s part of being a professional football player and having free agency.”