Nov 5, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Almost as quickly as it began, the Steelers’ experiment with Dri Archer is over.

The Steelers released their speedy but unproductive kick returner Thursday, when they claimed Jacoby Jones off waivers from San Diego.

Jones will probably be used as a kick returner for the Steelers (4-4) Sunday, when they host Oakland (4-3).

Archer, a third-round draft pick in 2014, was supposed to pump up the Steelers’ return game and possibly take over as a punt returner for Antonio Brown.

That never materialized as Archer averaged 17.9 yards on nine returns as a rookie before losing his job to Markus Wheaton. He did a better job this season, averaging 25.3 yards on 14 returns, but he struggled in last week’s 16-10 loss to Cincinnati returning one kick to the 10 and another to the 16.

On Pittsburgh’s final possession, after the Bengals scored to make it a six-point game, Archer had an opportunity to return the ensuing kickoff with 1:47 remaining in the game, but head coach Mike Tomlin told Archer to take a knee.

“I just wanted to get the ball to our offense. Often times, that play is another play for the offense,” said Tomlin. “We hadn’t done a great job in that game, at least blocking Cedric Peerman. He tackled us twice inside the 20. Dri did what we told him to do. If he brings that ball out, he probably gets to around the 20, based on what we had seen. He runs off four, five, six seconds, and I think that’s what was on the clock for the last ball that was snapped. So, we wanted to preserve that time and give those seconds to Ben (Roethlisberger). And that’s why we took the approach we did.”

The Steelers selected the diminutive Archer, who is 5-8 and 174 pounds, in the third round based on his production and speed at Kent State. Archer averaged 7.2 yards per carry at Kent State and recorded the second-fastest official 40-time in NFL combine history: 4.26 seconds. He also averaged nearly 40 yards per kick return in his final two seasons.

In the 6-3, 210-pound Jones, the Steelers acquired a player who is much more accomplished as a return man. Jones, 31, has five career kickoff returns for a touchdown and four on punts. He also had a 108-yard kickoff return for Baltimore in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers are very familiar with Jones, especially on one particular return.

While with Baltimore, Jones had a 73-yard kickoff return against the Steelers in 2013 during which Tomlin got too close to the sideline and forced Jones to slow enough for Cortez Allen to chase him down from behind.

Tomlin, who said he was watching the return unfold on the stadium jumbotron and did not realize he had gotten so close to the field, was fined $100,000 for the incident.

Jones, a third-round draft pick of Houston in 2007, spent five years with the Texans before joining Baltimore in 2012. He spent three seasons with the Ravens before being released after the 2014 season. He signed a two-year, $5.5-million deal with San Diego in the offseason but missed three games with an ankle injury.

Jones appeared in five games this season, returning nine kicks for a 21.4 yard average. He also returned five punts, but lost four yards.

He is scheduled to earn a base salary of $3 million in 2016. Since he has been released by Baltimore and San Diego, he counts $2.6 million against Baltimore’s salary cap this season and $1.7 million against San Diego’s cap.

The Steelers will pay a pro-rated portion of the remainder of his base salary this season of $350,000.

Odds and end zones

Jones will wear No. 15. … The Steelers signed quarterback/wide receiver Tyler Murphy to their practice squad. Murphy was released Wednesday to make room for cornerback Doran Grant on the active roster. … After being limited in practice Wednesday, defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee) and safety Will Allen (ankle) were full participants Thursday. … Linebacker Terence Garvin (knee) and tight end Matt Spaeth (knee) missed practice for the second consecutive day. … Wheaton, who missed practice Wednesday with an ankle injury, was limited Thursday.