Pittsburgh Steelers Al-Hajj Shabzz

The Pittsburgh Steelers promoted Al-Hajj Shabazz to their 53-man roster on Saturday, per a source close to the situation. Here, he catches a pass during a drill at NFL football minicamp in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 15, 2016 . (AP Photo/John Heller)

(John Heller)

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are promoting practice squad cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz to the 53-man roster ahead of their potentially AFC North-deciding Christmas Day kickoff with the Baltimore Ravens, a source close to the situation told PennLive.

UPDATE: Shamarko Thomas was placed on injured reserve and Daryl Richardson was released as Shabazz and practice squad defensive end Johnny Maxey were activated.

Shabazz's last game came two weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts as a member of the Houston Texans. He has spent much of the year in Pittsburgh, though, where he was signed to the practice squad after failing to make the initial 53-man roster and promoted on Nov. 5, playing primarily on special teams in five of the next seven games.

A former standout at Division-II West Chester, Shabazz spent parts of last season on the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rosters.

If one of Stephon Tuitt or Ricardo Matthews can't play, Shabazz's won't be the only promotion from the practice squad this weekend

The Steelers released him on Dec. 3 as they signed a second kicker in Randy Bullock when Chris Boswell was questionable with an abdominal injury.

Though Pittsburgh planned to re-sign Shabazz to the practice squad, per the source, Houston signed him first. The Texans claimed Shabazz on Dec. 5, played him Dec. 11 and released him Dec. 17. Pittsburgh re-signed him to the practice squad on Tuesday.

On Friday, Shabazz said, he covered Antonio Brown in parts of practice while the star receiver wore jingle bells on his cleats.