Michael Vick signs one-year contract with Steelers

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Daily Blitz: Vick heading to Pittsburgh The biggest topics of the day in the NFL.

Quarterback Michael Vick didn't have to wait until the regular season to land back in the NFL

The veteran signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday to serve as the back-up to Ben Roethlisberger, the team announced.

The Steelers' current No. 2 quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, suffered a hand injury in the Week 2 preseason game against Green Bay and was placed on injured reserve.

Vick, 35, had been a free agent since his one-year contract with the New York Jets expired in March. He played in 10 games, with three starts, for the Jets last season. He spent the previous five years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

"There's not a throw on the field he can't make from an arm strength standpoint," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters after the signing. "He's a very experienced guy at what he does at this point in his career and the mobility is still unique even at 35."

Vick remains a controversial figure after his 2007 federal conviction for financing a dogfighting ring, a consideration Tomlin said had been taken into account.

"Obviously we're sensitive to those potential things but we are going to do our due diligence," Tomlin said. "Rest assured that we've done that, but rest assured he's done a lot since he's gone through some of the things he's gone through and his track record at this point in that regard speaks for itself."

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones

PHOTOS: 2015 NFL preseason