For Antoine Brooks Jr., the 2020 season was one filled with ups and downs for the rookie safety.
Literally.
Brooks, who was released prior to the start of the regular season, was then immediately signed back to the practice squad one day later. Brooks spent the first six weeks of the season on the practice squad, before he was elevated to the Active/Inactive roster multiple times during the season, reverting back to the practice squad following games, before finishing the season on the 53-man roster.
Through the final 10 games of the season, Brooks played in four games, while dressing but not seeing action in three others, and being a game day inactive twice. He was also on the practice squad for one game.
Brooks saw his first game action in Week 9 against Dallas, and the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals finished with two tackles, one solo and one assist.
"It felt good," said Brooks the week after the Bengals game. "I am out here working to get to where I want to be in life and football. They are really helping me with that. The older guys are really connecting with me, telling me what to do and how to do this, and how to do certain stuff. It feels amazing. When I first got out there, it felt really good."
Brooks was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland. While at Maryland he was voted MVP for the Terrapins in 2019, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection (coaches) and third-team All-Big Ten selection (media).
Brooks finished the 2019 season as the Terps leading tackler with 87 stops, including 69 solo stops, also had eight and a half tackles for a loss and five pass defenses.
Take a look at photographs of Steelers S Antoine Brooks Jr. from the 2020 season
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Baltimore, MD. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 28-24. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Cleveland, OH. The Browns defeated the Steelers 24-22. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) takes the field prior to a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Cleveland, OH. The Browns defeated the Steelers 24-22. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Football Team, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Washington Football Team defeated the Steelers 23-17. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Football Team, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers lost to Washington 17-23. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Cleveland, OH. The Browns beat the Steelers 24-22. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Colts 28-24. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 36-10. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Dallas, TX. The Steelers defeated the Cowboys 24-19. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Dallas, TX. The Steelers beat the Cowboys 24-19. (Joshua Gateley / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Colts 28-24. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 36-10. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 36-10. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Ravens 19-14. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Bengals 36-10. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Bengals 36-10. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers beat the Bengals 36-10. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 36-10. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 in Baltimore, MD. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 28-24. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Antoine Brooks Jr. (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 36-10. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
