Garrett Hartley with the Saints in 2010
New Orleans Saints' Garrett Hartley (right, rear) kicks a field goal late in the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV in Miami in 2010. Reuters/Andrew Innerarity

With the season-ending injury to primary kicker Shaun Suisham, the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran Garrett Hartley, the team confirmed on Tuesday. Suisham suffered a torn ACL in the Steelers’ first preseason game last Sunday and is expected to be out for the entire 2015 season.

Hartley will have large shoes to fill, as Suisham was one of the most reliable kickers in the league last season. Suisham, who will undergo surgery later this week, made 29 of 32 attempts for the Steelers in the 2014 season. The Steelers placed quarterback/wide receiver Devin Gardner to make room for Hartley in the roster.

Hartley, who holds an 81.7 kicking percentage in his career, is a seven-year NFL veteran who has seen action in 59 regular season games and four playoff games. He was a practice/offseason player for the Denver Broncos in 2008 before joining the New Orleans Saints from 2008 to 2013. He was also part of the Cleveland Browns roster in 2014 but was waived by the team earlier this year.

The Steelers still have the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers in their preseason schedule before facing the New England Patriots on opening week of the 2015 NFL Season.

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