After spending his NFL career yo-yoing on and off the Carolina Panthers roster, Eku Leota joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. THE NFL team announced On Tuesday, he signed former Auburn linebacker and former high school running back Theodore La’Mical Perine to his practice squad.
Pittsburgh signed Leota and Perine while releasing linebacker Marcus Haynes and running back Jack Colletto from its practice squad.
Practice squad members do everything active roster players do except participate in games. However, each NFL team can elevate two players from its practice squad to active status for each game.
Leota began his NFL career as an undrafted rookie on the Panthers’ practice squad last season. But he ended up playing eight games in 2023 for 77 defensive snaps and 90 special teams plays.
In Carolina’s 47–10 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Panthers’ 2024 season opener on September 8, Leota recorded one sack and three tackles for loss. The following week, Leota made his first NFL start in a 26–3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
But two days later, the Panthers waived Leota. Carolina re-signed him to its practice squad on September 19, then released him again on September 24.
Perine returns for his second stint with Pittsburgh this year.
Perine’s 2023 season ended as a member of Kansas City’s practice squad as the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII. Perine rushed for 77 yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for 33 yards in three regular season games for Kansas City in 2023. He also played on special teams in three playoff games, but not in the Super Bowl.
After Kansas City released him on May 17, Perine signed with the Steelers on May 23. Pittsburgh released the running back on August 27 by cutting its preseason roster to the regular-season limit, and Perine landed in practice with the Green Bay Packers. team. He was with the Packers in the season opener before being released on September 10.
A fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2020, Perine has 340 yards and two touchdowns on 94 rushing attempts and 14 receptions for 96 yards in 17 NFL regular season games.
Perine was Alabama’s Class 7A guard of the year at Theodore in 2015.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
