Chiefs acquire linebacker Melvin in trade

Ingram, a former Pro Bowl selection who spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, signed a one-season deal with the Steelers before the start of training camp as a rotational outside linebacker, but recently expressed frustration with his role after participating in just 26 percent of the defensive snaps against the Seattle Seahawks.

Ingram, who did not practice last week or travel to face the Cleveland Browns, ends his brief stint with Pittsburgh with one catch and 10 tackles. Ingram’s limited role speaks to the Steelers’ confidence in second-year outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who has 1.5 catches and 25 tackles on the season.

The Chiefs and Steelers began trade discussions in the last couple of weeks, but the Steelers initially opted to keep their player in hopes of finding a non-AFC partner. However, that market never materialized, and the Steelers granted Ingram’s trade request by sending him to Kansas City.

With Ingram out, depth at the linebacker position for the Steelers is left vulnerable. Derrek Tuszka, initially selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, is the only other outside linebacker on the active roster behind starters T.J. Watt and Highsmith. The Steelers elevated practice squad player Taco Charlton to the active roster for the Cleveland showdown, an option that would bolster depth at the position going forward.

The Chiefs have just 11 catches in eight games, the second-lowest total in the league. Chris Jones has played mostly on the edge in the current campaign, but hasn’t helped with pressure. He has three catches.

The other primary quarterback catcher for the Chiefs, Frank Clark, missed three games with an injury and records just one catch, one that came on the final play of the Chiefs’ 20-17 win over the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.”