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Steelers sign Tyson Alualu to two-year contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Tyson Alualu to a two-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The Steelers now have a 300-pound defensive end to throw in the mix with starters Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

"As soon as you walk in the building you get a sense from talking to the people, it's real genuine," Alualu said, according to the team's website. "Just a place that loves to win, so I would love to be a part of that. Just excited about this opportunity."

Alualu, 29, becomes the third free agent the Steelers have signed this week, joining cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and running back Knile Davis.

"I am thankful to be here," Alualu said. "I had some tough years in Jacksonville. I just wanted a good change. I am excited to be here."

Alualu never became the dominant player the Jaguars had hoped he would, but he was a consistent player who has never missed a game because of an injury.

He recorded 376 tackles and 17.5 sacks in seven seasons with the Jaguars, who took him 10th overall in the 2010 draft.

Alualu had played in every game since he was drafted until the 2016 season opener against Green Bay, when he was a healthy inactive. That ended a run of 96 consecutive games in which he was active, the third-longest streak in franchise history.

He was inactive the following week but played in the next 14 games and finished with 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss in 2016. The 2.5 sacks were his most since notching 3.5 in 2012.

ESPN's Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.