CHICAGO --Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Darius Slay would take over cornerback James Pierre, who had a standout day against the Cincinnati Bengals a week ago, but that turned out to not be the case.
“He steps back in and plays,” Tomlin said. “We’re certainly going to continue to play James. He’s deserving of that. But if healthy, Slay is going to play.”
So much for those words, as the actions speak much louder. Pierre outsnapped Slay significantly while Joey Porter Jr. was healthy, but Porter left the game early after suffering a hip flexor injury. Still, it seems that Pierre has moved into starting status, a significant switch for the Steelers.
Pierre, the sixth-year NFL veteran, was always known as the standout special teams gunner, but had impressed in his limited opportunities this season. Yet, covering Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is another challenge altogether.
“Never lose belief in yourself,” Pierre said. “Everyday, it’s constant. Like, it’s a job to believe in yourself every day.”
Pierre’s journey is one of inspiration. He came in during the COVID draft class, where less than ten undrafted free agents made the active roster. He was one of those select few, and somehow stuck on the roster throughout his entire rookie contract.
Now, he has become a starting cornerback for the Steelers, and is likely to hold that role moving forward after another good outing against the Bears.
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