There aren't many positives to take away from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The offense was an utter disaster for the vast majority of the game, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers playing his worst game as a Steeler. The defense had its struggles as well, but mostly thanks to the offense leaving them out to dry.
Pittsburgh also dealt with a few injuries, with corners Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. leaving the game at one point. Porter did manage to return, but Slay suffered a concussion that kept him out of the game.
In his place, the Steelers called upon sixth-year veteran James Pierre. Pierre has been a reserve defensive back and spot starter throughout his career, never playing more than 36% of the defensive snaps in a season. His play in this game, and his play this season overall, however, suggests he should be playing more regardless of Slay's health moving forward.
James Pierre shines in Darius Slay's spot for Pittsburgh Steelers against Chargers
Slay has been a massive disappointment this season for Pittsburgh, so Pierre didn't have to light it up to adequately replace him. Still, he is very effective for a player of his makeup. At 29 years old with limited athleticism, Pierre isn't going to suddenly become a long-term starter for the Steelers, but he has looked far better this season than the 34-year-old Slay.
It's a very small sample size, but he has been much stickier in coverage and has made more plays on the ball. He has six passes defended this season compared to Slay's three, despite playing far fewer snaps. He also has shown plenty of toughness and willingness to tackle, likely due to his long history of being a special teams ace.
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Now that the NFL trade deadline has passed, finding upgrades for the roster is easier said than done. Pittsburgh will meet Asante Samuel Jr. later this week, but it's hard to imagine he will want to join a Steelers team that is heading in the wrong direction.
If Slay is going to miss time with his concussion and or continue to struggle this season, Pierre may be their only option for a spark opposite Porter Jr. It's not exciting, but the Steelers can't keep trotting the clearly washed defender out there. He is constantly banged up, and he is painfully slow compared to his days as an All-Pro corner.
While I hope Slay is healthy and available next week against the Bengals, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the coaching staff would be wise to let Pierre prove if he can hold up as a full-time starter. It's not like they have anything to lose now that their AFC North lead is continuing to slip away.