The Ladarius Green experiment is over in Pittsburgh.
The team announced Thursday they released the tight end with a failed physical designation.
Green signed a four-year, $20 million contract last season, he earned $6 million of the deal before being cut. Jettisoning the 26-year-old cost the Steelers $3.5 million in dead money, per OverTheCap.com.
The splash signing paid little dividends for Pittsburgh as Green battled injuries, playing in just six games, making two starts. In one season with the Steelers, the tight end caught 18 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown.
Signed to be a seam-stretching threat to replace the retired Heath Miller, Green battled injuries and continuing concussion issues. The tight end had documented concussion history during his four years in San Diego before signing with Pittsburgh. He also underwent ankle surgery last March.
While adding the athletic, pass-catching tight end made perfect sense from a schematic sense, the concussion and ankle problems proved faulty.
Cutting Green leaves the Steelers with Jesse James, Xavier Grimble and David Johnson at the tight end position heading into 2017.
The Steelers also announced they signed running back Terrell Watson.
