Neal (ribs) announced via social media Sunday that he is retiring from the NFL, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neal last played in 2023 with the Steelers before he sustained a season-ending rib injury, which led the team to release him with a failed physical designation in March of 2024. The 2016 first-round pick played his first five years with the Falcons and was a Pro Bowler in 2017. He then missed almost the entire 2018 and 2019 campaigns before spending one last season in Atlanta, and he went on to play one year in Dallas and one in Tampa Bay before ending up with the Steelers. Neal finishes his eight-year career with 523 tackles, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles.

The Steelers released Neal (ribs) with a failed physical designation Thursday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Steelers signed Neal to a two-year contract last March, with Mike DeFabo of The Athletic relaying that Thursday's move saves the Steelers about $2.25 million in terms of their salary cap, while carrying $460,000 in dead money. Prior to being placed on IR with a rib injury this past November, Neal recorded 50 tackles and an interception in nine games. In the wake of Neal's looming departure, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee profile as Pittsburgh's top returning options at safety.

Neal (ribs) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran safety was held out of practice all week after suffering a ribs injury during the Steelers' Week 10 win over the Packers, and he'll be forced to miss the team's next four games after going on IR. Neal was able to record 50 total tackles, two pass deflections and one interception in the nine games before his injury. Damontae Kazee is expected to start at strong safety until Neal can return to the field.

Neal (ribs) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Browns, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neal has seen an increased role over the past three weeks while Minkah Fitzpatrick has been absent due to a hamstring issue, but the former will now be forced to sit out as well. That will likely mean that Damontae Kazee and Elijah Riley will be very busy Sunday versus Cleveland. Neal wasn't able to practice at all this week, so his status for Week 12 against Cincinnati is up in the air as well.

Neal did not participate in practice Wednesday due to a rib injury.

EDGE Analysis

Neal tallied a season-high eight tackles along with his first interception of the season when he caught a tipped pass during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 23-19 win against Green Bay. However, he apparently came down on the ball awkwardly while being tackled on the play and had to be attended by members of Pittsburgh's training staff, according to Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com. While Neal never received an official injury designation in-game and said he would be "OK" postgame, it appears this injury kept him sidelined for the Steelers' first practice session Week 11. The starting strong safety will now have two more sessions to improve his status before Sunday's divisional matchup at Cleveland.

Neal recorded eight tackles (four solo), while intercepting a pass and deflecting another in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

Neal was able to snatch an interception off of a pass deflection by Patrick Peterson in the fourth quarter, notching his first pick of the year. The eight tackles also represented a season-high for the safety, who has now compiled 22 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection on top of the interception over the last three weeks.

Neal recorded five tackles (two solo) in Sunday's 30-7 loss to the 49ers.

EDGE Analysis

Neal signed with the Steelers in the offseason and he had productive debut with the team considering he only played 48 percent of the defensive snaps. His workload will likely increase as the season goes on, therefore his production will go up as well.

Neal is expected to be a significant and versatile piece of the Steelers defense this season, Joe Rutter of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neal signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh in March after spending last season on the Buccaneers. The veteran safety has spent time all over the field on defense in practice, seeing snaps at strong safety, while also as a third safety playing more in the box. His physical presence and versatility should lead to a significant role in Steelers' secondary this season.

The Steelers signed Neal (hip) to a two-year contract Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

As expected, Neal will join Pittsburgh in 2023 where he'll pursue his eighth year of professional ball. Across the last two seasons as a member of both the Cowboys and Buccaneers, the 2017 Pro-Bowler has more or less switched off between being a starter as well as a rotational secondary piece. Neal is now in line to compete with Damontae Kazee throughout the offseason for an opportunity to start next to fellow safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Neal (hip) is expected to sign with the Steelers, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neal, a 2016 first-round pick and Pro-Bowler, appears as if he'll pursue his eighth campaign in the NFL as a member of the Steelers. The 27-year-old spent the first five years of his career in Atlanta before suiting up for the Cowboys in 2021 and eventually for the Buccaneers in 2022. Across 17 appearances last season, Neal amassed 63 tackles, four passes defensed and one interception.