Steelers A to Z: Suspension behind him, Damontae Kazee trying to factor into safety rotation

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

S Damontae Kazee

Experience/age: Eighth season/31

Contract status: $3.875 million cap hit, signed through 2024

The past: Kazee’s second season with the Steelers was memorable in the way that it ended. He was suspended by the NFL for the final three games because of a violent hit he put on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman. On appeal, Kazee was permitted to return for the postseason, which looked unlikely given the Steelers’ 7-7 record at the time.

After the Steelers won the final three games, Kazee suited up in the wild-card loss at Buffalo, and he hesitated to hit scrambling Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, which contributed to a 51-yard touchdown run that put the Steelers behind by 21 points in the second quarter.

Kazee started nine of the 14 games he played last year, and he was on the field for 81% of the defensive snaps in those games. He was part of a safety rotation that included Keanu Neal. Kazee finished with two interceptions, matching the number he had in his first season with the Steelers when he was limited to nine games because of injury.

Kazee is among the oldest players on the Steelers roster. Only five players on the roster have accumulated more NFL service time.

JOSH ******* ALLEN!!!!

????: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/PdKuDqemFI

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 15, 2024

2024 outlook: Kazee’s role entering training camp isn’t set. The Steelers signed DeShon Elliott to a two-year contract in free agency with the idea that he will start alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary.

Kazee could continue to be used in three-safety packages. The Steelers, though, could save $3 million if Kazee doesn’t make the 53-man roster. Cheaper, albeit less experienced options exist on the roster, but the Steelers went through a handful of safeties last year because of injuries. That could be a reason to keep Kazee around to fulfill the final year of his deal.