The Steelers activated guard Matt Feiler and linebacker Robert Spillane to the 53-man roster from the Reserve/Injured List on Saturday. The team also elevated tight end Kevin Rader to the Active/Inactive roster from the practice squad and waived linebacker Tegray Scales.
Feiler and Spillane both returned to practice on Wednesday, and the team had a 21-day window to activate them.
Feiler was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Dec.14. Prior to his injury he started 13 games at left guard.
Spillane was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Dec. 12. He had played in 12 games this season, starting seven after Devin Bush went out with a season-ending knee injury. Spillane has 43 tackles, 37 of them solo stops, two sacks, four tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits and one interception, which he returned 33 yards for a touchdown in Week 8 against the Ravens, and a fumble recovery.
Rader, who played high school football at Pine-Richland in the Pittsburgh area, was also called up for the team's Week 17 game against the Browns and saw action on special teams, making three tackles and earning the praise of Coach Mike Tomlin.
"Guys like Kevin Rader had an opportunity to step up and play," said Tomlin during his weekly press conference. "I think he had three tackles on kickoff. For an offensive player to have that type of contribution in net, in a coverage unit, I think was impressive. That's good for him. That's good for us as we move forward."
Rader, who opened the season on the practice squad, also spent time on the Active/Inactive roster during the season. Rader spent the majority of the 2019 season on the Steelers' practice squad. Rader was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft, spending training camp with the team. He played collegiately at Youngstown State where he had 44 receptions for 601 yards and four touchdowns.
