Gradkowski was released from the Steelers' injured reserve on Friday, ESPN's Adam Caplan reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 33-year-old suffered a torn hamstring in the preseason and landed on IR before the season started. Landry Jones and Zach Mettenberger remain to back up starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers have placed Gradkowski (hamstring) on IR.

EDGE Analysis

With Gradkowski headed for IR with his hamstring injury, the Steelers claimed Zach Mettenberger off waivers to give the team added QB depth behind Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones.

Gradkowski, who is dealing with a left hamstring injury, is going to be out for "a number of weeks," per coach Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran QB could miss the rest of the preseason and in Gradkowski's absence, Dustin Vaughan figures to see added practice reps behind Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones.

Gradkowski suffered a torn hamstring during the Steelers' opening preseason game last Friday, ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gradkowski missed all of last season due to shoulder and hand injuries, so his hamstring problem only adds to his health issues. With Landry Jones cemented as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback, Pittsburgh is fine behind Ben Roethlisberger, but Gradkowski's injury may open up their third-string job.

Gradkowski left Friday's preseason game against the Lions with a left hamstring injury, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gradkowski suffered the injury on a scramble, but the severity of the injury is not yet known. This could mean even more injury trouble for the quarterback who missed all of last season after having surgery on his finger. He was re-signed this offseason to compete with Landry Jones for the backup quarterback spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.

Gradkowski will likely see action in Friday's preseason opener since, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Ben Roethlisberger is expected to sit out against the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

With Roethlisberger joining several key offensive players including Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and DeAngelo Williams on the sidelines, Gradkowski will have an opportunity to show why he deserves the backup quarterback spot over Landry Jones and Dustin Vaughan, despite missing all of last season.

Gradkowski is re-signing with the Steelers to compete against Landry Jones for the backup job, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gradkowski and Jones went through the same thing last year, but the competition ended early when the former needed surgery on his non-throwing hand at the end of the preseason. Jones and Mike Vick both ended up making starts during Ben Roethlisberger's four-game absence, with Jones at least managing to hold his own. It thus seems Gradkowski will enter the competition as an underdog, though he should be back to full health.

Gradkowski, who is an unrestricted free agent, dislocated a finger on his non-throwing hand during a pre-season game that required season-ending.

EDGE Analysis

Gradkowski has played for five different teams in his career, and the signing of Michael Vick, as well as the emergence of Landry Jones as a viable back-up to the oft-injured Ben Roethlisberger, suggests Gradkowski could be backing-up a quarterback for a sixth NFL team in 2016.

Gradkowski completed two-of-three passes for 22 yards in Pittsburgh's 30-17 Wild Card loss to Baltimore on Saturday. Gradkowski, who had not attempted a pass since 2012, entered the game on a third-and-21 with just under five minutes remaining while Ben Roethlisberger was being examined on the sidelines for a possible concussion. Gradkowski completed his first two passes to pick-up the first down, moving the Steelers to the Ravens' 14-yard line. After an incomplete pass, he was replaced by Roethlisberger, who threw an interception on the next play, ending Pittsburgh's playoff hopes.

Steelers signed QB Bruce Gradkowski to a three-year contract. It was beyond time for the Steelers to upgrade their backup situation. Ben Roethlisberger has missed eight games over the last three seasons and Charlie Batch/Byron Leftwich proved mostly inept. Gradkowski, 30, brings 20 NFL starts and seven years of experience as a backup to the table.