Pittsburgh Steelers bring back Kion Wilson to practice squad, cut Alan Baxter

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kion Wilson (48) participates in drills during minicamp at the UPMC Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to make a quick practice squad swap, as they’ve cut one linebacker for another by dropping Alan Baxter in favor of bringing back Kion Wilson. The move was reported by Bob Labriola of Steelers Digest, and it means that Wilson always had a place on the Steelers. They cut him just two days ago in favor of bringing back Stevenson Sylvester, who was released by the team this offseason after once being viewed as a promising player. The same can be said for Wilson, who seemed to be somebody that the Steelers were high on before they cut him a couple of days ago.

Wilson was actually the Pittsburgh Steelers emergency starter at the “Buck” linebacker position, as he started for Larry Foote in games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears. He recorded nine tackles in both games, but the Steelers were unimpressed and benched him for Vince Williams, who is the better player.

Now, Wilson is back on the team at the expense of another young linebacker in UDFA Alan Baxter, who looked promising in training camp. But it seems like the good camp will not influence the Pittsburgh Steelers brass, as he is now on the way out. Baxter played defensive end at Northern Illinois before making the swap to LB with the Steelers, and his August was good enough to earn him a practice squad job for another team.

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