The Pittsburgh Steelers are bolstering their running back room by signing John Lovett from the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, making him the 36th XFL player to transition to an NFL team post-regular season. Lovett follows in the footsteps of TE Brandon Dillon, the other Viper to have found a home in the NFL with the Washington Commanders.
Lovett will be stepping into a robust running back ensemble that boasts Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland Jr, and Jason Huntley. The challenge for Lovett will be to secure his spot in the final 53-man roster. However, he may see some early field action in the preseason games.
Lovett started his college career at Baylor and had an impressive three-season run with the Bears before transferring to Penn State for his senior season. His stint with Baylor yielded 1,673 rushing yards across 37 games, boasting an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Although his college career didn’t allow him to display his receiving prowess, his time with the Vegas Vipers proved that he could be a formidable threat in the receiving game.
In his one season with the Vegas Vipers, Lovett demonstrated his versatility. Playing all 10 games, he amassed 227 rushing yards on 59 attempts, with an average of 3.8 yards per carry, and contributed 3 rushing touchdowns. Moreover, Lovett proved his worth as a receiving threat, recording 269 receiving yards on 14 receptions, along with 2 receiving touchdowns.
Lovett, turning 24 next month, has a prime opportunity to fill the roles of a third-down back and Special Teams member for the Steelers, replacing the injured Alfonzo Graham.
Lovett spent the previous year in the NFL’s Carolina Panthers’ roster, impressing in the preseason before being a part of the final roster cuts. His one-season stint at Penn State saw him accumulate 177 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards over nine games.
As the Steelers prepare for their first padded, full-contact practice of training camp at Chuck Noll Field at Saint Vincent, Lovett’s signing heralds the promise of a fresh start. He carries the hope of successfully transitioning from the XFL to the NFL, as well as the potential of an “amazing comeback,” just as the sidelined Alfonzo Graham promised in his social media post.
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