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Pittsburgh Steelers cut free agent flop Ladarius Green, sign RB

By Alex Butler
Former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green was released Wednesday by the franchise. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers/Twitter
Former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green was released Wednesday by the franchise. Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers/Twitter

May 18 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers released tight end Ladarius Green Thursday with the designation of a failed physical.

Green had 304 yards and a touchdown on 18 catches in six games last season. He started two games. He was originally a fourth round pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 2012 NFL Draft. Green joined the Steelers as a free agent last offseason.

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The 26-year-old has had issues with concussions after signing a four-year, $20 million pact with the Steelers on March 9, 2016. He immediately had ankle surgery after joining the team and didn't participate in OTAs. He began the season on the active/PUP list. Retirement rumors swirled around the tight end after it was reported that he was having headaches. He was placed on the reserve/PUP list on Aug. 30 and didn't play until Week 10.

Green broke out in the Steelers' Week 13 win against the New York Giants, catching six passes for a career-high 110 yards and a touchdown. He exited the team's Week 15 game with a concussion. He was in the concussion protocol for the rest of the season, missing Week 16, Week 17 and the first two rounds of the playoffs. Green participated in OTAs.

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Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Green would be back in 2017, before he failed the physical.

Green was set to make $5 million this season and $4.5 million in 2018 and 2019, before hitting free agency.

Jesse James now tops the depth chart at the position, followed by Xavier Grimble, David Johnson and Ryan Malleck.

The Steelers also announced the addition of free agent running back Terrell Watson. Watson, 23, was originally an undrafted rookie free agent pickup by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2016, but was waived in September. Watson then hopped on practice squads for the Browns, Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles. He had 28 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in Week 17 action for the Eagles and was waived on May 4.

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Watson will face plenty of competition to get carries in the Steelers' backfield behind Le'Veon Bell, Fitzgerald Toussaint, James Conner and Knile Davis.

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