Four days after he practiced for the first time since the season started, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon was on the field as the Pittsburgh Steelers tried to stop the Dallas Cowboys with time running out on Sunday night.

Former South Alabama standout Jalen Tolbert caught a fourth-down touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining to lift Dallas to a 20-17 victory in Moon’s first appearance of the 2024 NFL season.

After spending the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve because of an ankle injury, Moon played 28 defensive snaps for the Steelers on Sunday – the second-highest total of his NFL career.

“We had a couple guys go down,” Moon said. “So, I mean, I was just getting back, so I had a few limited reps in practice and everything. So now that I’m, you know, back, it’ll be good.”

Moon is expected to be in Pittsburgh’s starting lineup when the Steelers play the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CDT Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and three-time league sack leader T.J. Watt will be at one outside linebacker spot for Pittsburgh. But the choices to play on the other side of the Steelers defense have dwindled with DeMarvin Leal on injured reserve, and Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig ruled out because of groin and hamstring injuries, respectively.

“It’s an opportunity every day,” Moon said on Wednesday. “And that’s why we’re all here. And it does suck. Nick, Leal, Alex, I mean, everybody’s fighting every single day, so you never want to see that. You never want to see that happen. So, I mean, just go about it day-by-day and be the best you can be.”

Moon played in eight regular-season games, with one start, for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 after spending the 2022 season on the practice squad without getting into a game as an undrafted rookie. He played 99 defensive snaps and 142 special-teams plays last season.

Moon also played in a postseason contest for the Ravens before Baltimore waived him on Jan. 26 to create a roster spot for tight end Mark Andrews, who made it back from injured reserve just in time for the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Baltimore also waived Moon on Aug. 30 and Oct. 28 last season, and in both instances, re-signed him after he cleared waivers. But on Jan. 26, Moon didn’t clear waivers because the Steelers claimed him.

“Like I do every day, I come in and put my head down and work,” Moon said about his preparation for his second NFL start. “Come in and get in, be proactive with treatment, come in and get a lift in, watch film and do everything you got to do to seize the moment. …

“I think I can bring a lot of qualities. I can play on special teams. I can play on defense. I can set the edge. I can rush the passer. So, you know, all it is is about knowing what you’re supposed to do, having confidence to do it, and then executing.”

Before played in six seasons at Florida before reaching the NFL, Moon was an All-State defensive end for Hoover High School in 2015.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.