The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has struggled to live up to its high expectations this season. The blame is shared by all, but Steelers fans are no doubt honing in on the secondary’s struggles in coverage.
The team invested heavily in the secondary this offseason, and so far, that unit has not been as strong as fans hoped it could be with the additions of Jalen Ramsey, Juan Thornhill, and Darius Slay.
Slay has been at the center of the criticisms. He’s struggled to provide reliable coverage in pretty much every contest, and he’s also missed a lot of snaps due to in-game injuries.
Injuries have been prevalent for the secondary all season, too, and a lack of depth has been just as much a hindrance when the starters have come out of the game. Luckily, the defense will get some of its depth back soon.
Cory Trice Jr. could quietly stabilize the Pittsburgh Steelers’ waning cornerback room
On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin indicated that third-year cornerback Cory Trice, Jr., will return from his training camp hamstring injury soon. His 21-day practice window to return from the Injured Reserve list hasn’t been opened yet, but it’s no less a good sign that once it does, Trice will be able to get on the field.
Trice isn’t going to usurp Slay upon his return, of course. Trice has played in just six games in his short career, as injuries have continuously gotten in the way of his contributing to the team. However, when he does return, he’ll be giving the team much-needed headroom with its secondary depth.
As mentioned, Slay has struggled, and he’s struggled with injuries. Despite being a primary starter and suiting up for all six games, Slay has played just 84% of defensive snaps. In those snaps, Slay is giving up a perfect passer rating, allowing 71.4% of passes in his coverage to be completed. On the season, Slay has allowed 302 yards and two scores on 20 receptions while only accounting for three pass breakups and zero interceptions.
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Being a veteran with his resume, Tomlin isn’t going to sit Slay anytime soon. But, it’s doubly clear that the 34-year-old is struggling in his battle with Father Time, both in health and production.
Surely, Brandin Echols will continue to be the first man up on the outside when Slay misses any amount of time. But Joey Porter Jr. has dealt with some minor injuries, too, and James Pierre isn’t an ideal candidate for defensive reps. If Pittsburgh has to go without both Slay and Porter again, having Trice on the gameday roster is more valuable insurance, even if the young DB isn’t the most experienced player.