Jon Bostic got the multi-year contract in free agency, but it was inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich who got the first snaps with the first-team defense Tuesday at the start of voluntary offseason practice.

For the first workout, coach Mike Tomlin elected to go with the third-year veteran and special-teams standout over the newcomer, who signed a two-year deal with the Steelers in March.

“To be honest, he's been in (this defense),” Bostic said. “At the end of the day, for me, ball is ball. … It's learning the terminology.”

Bostic was signed to help fill the void created by linebacker Ryan Shazier's spinal cord injury in December. The Steelers had difficulty stopping the run last year after Shazier's injury, and Bostic had 97 tackles in 2017, his only season with the Indianapolis Colts.

“My job is to come in and compete and show guys what I can do and bring my skills to this defense,” he said.

Bostic is aware that his turn to work with the first-team defense will come, perhaps as soon as the second workout Wednesday.

“Whether you're out there with the first team, second team or third team, all of these guys out here are the best where they're from,” Bostic said, “so it's a chance to go out there and compete.”

Bostic also isn't concerned with being tasked to step in for Shazier, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who was arguably the defense's top player at the time of his injury.

“From day one, I said I'd come in and work hard,” he said. “When my number is called upon, I'll see what I can do then.”

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---