One experienced defensive player returned to training after an injury break, but another will miss the rest of the season due to a commitment to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The team announced Sunday that Dean Lowry was reinstated to the active roster from the physically unable to perform list and Breiden Fehoko was placed on the injured list.

Lowry, a nine-year veteran, signed a two-year contract as a free agent in March, but his 2023 season ended early for the Minnesota Vikings due to a pectoral injury. The Steelers placed him on the PUP list at the start of training camp.

Fehoko is on his second one-year contract with the Steelers. He is perhaps the Steelers’ best option at nose tackle, but he did not play in a regular season game last season. He spent the second half of last season on the practice squad.

Being placed on the injured list at this point in training camp means Fehoko will not be able to return this season.

2 additional players in defense

The Steelers made some other changes to their defense, signing defensive lineman Marquiss Spencer and outside linebacker Luquay Washington, but waived inside linebacker Easton Gibbs.

Spencer, a seventh-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2021, played one regular-season game for the team as a rookie but has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since. Spencer (6-4, 295) spent part of 2022 and all of last season on the New York Jets’ practice squad.

Washington (6-3, 230) was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Central Connecticut State, but the Chiefs released him three weeks ago.

Gibbs only joined the team on Wednesday. He played four snaps during Friday’s preseason game.