It seemed apparent that Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones’ days with the team were drawing nigh. But the former first-round pick may fade away even before his contract expires at the end of the season.
Via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he didn’t want to use a five-man rotation for four outside linebacker spots. And since starters James Harrison and Anthony Chickillo seem entrenched and second-year linebacker Bud Dupree is back, it could be down to Jones and Arthur Moats for the final spot in that rotation.
And unlike Jones, Moats has sacks this year (3.5 of them), along with a contract for 2017.
“Do my job,” Jones said Thursday. “That’s all I can do.”
Jones said he was going to be motivated by the fact the Steelers didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. But that hasn’t translated into any tangible results this season (he has 5.0 sacks in four seasons), and he seems to realize it’s out of his control at this point.
“I’ll prepare the same way,” Jones said. “I don’t make those decisions. Coaches do.”
It seems like the Steelers may already have, and Jones’ career with the team that drafted him 17th overall may be slinking to its inevitable end.