The Steelers promoted safety Ross Ventrone from the practice squad to the active roster today and released rookie fifth-round pick Wesley Johnson.
Ventrone, who played at Chartiers Valley High School, will appear in a regular-season game for the Steelers for the first time Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. He previously played in eight games for the Patriots in 2011.
The move was necessitated by a hamstring injury to Shamarko Thomas, who has been ruled out for the Browns game. Thomas was injured in last week's game in Jacksonville.
Johnson, a fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt, must clear waivers before he can be signed to the Steelers’ practice squad.
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: October 11, 2014, 9:03 p.m.