Former Shepherd linebacker Howard Jones spent all of the NFL’s 2014 season on the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old Jones had been a defensive end with Shepherd and had gone undrafted by any NFL team. He signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh on May 10, 2014, and then played in the team’s pre-season games, once recovering two fumbles against Buffalo.

When the Steelers cut their squad to the league’s mandatory 53-player limit when the regular season began, Jones was placed on the practice squad. He remained on that squad during the 16-game regular season.

When the season ended, Jones signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers on Jan. 5, 2015. Pittsburgh also signed the other six players from its practice squad to the same reserve/future contracts. Jones will attend all off-season practices and team sessions.