The Steelers opened training camp with a problem, but it has turned into an opportunity for the next wave of defensive backs.
Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey have missed every practice so far while recovering from injuries, leaving Pittsburgh thin at the top of its secondary. That absence has opened the door for younger players to get real work, and the early signs have the organization believing more than one of them can matter once the season starts.
Daylen Everette has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. The third-round pick has been thrown right into the fire from the start, with head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham lining him up against DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in the first week of camp. He handled that test and kept building from there, then followed it with a strong preseason debut that showed burst, quickness and confidence in coverage.
Everette has also added value on special teams. He is set to be one of the gunners on the punt team, working opposite Pro Bowl special teams player, Ben Skowronek.
The Steelers also needed answers in the slot once Ramsey went down, and Brandin Echols was the first name up. When Echols then got hurt too, Doneiko Slaughter stepped in and quickly earned the staff’s trust. The second-year player has been working with the first-team defense as the nickel corner, and even if he has not been perfect, the team clearly sees something in him.
His first preseason game told that story well. Slaughter drew a costly penalty, then answered on the next series with a tackle for loss. He diagnosed a screen pass, shot downhill and blew up the play, wiping away some of the damage from the earlier mistake.
There is still an injury factor hanging over his spot, but the Steelers like Slaughter enough that he has done plenty to put himself in position for a 53-man roster spot.
Then there is Robert Spears-Jennings, who has gone from roster long shot to a player who looks settled in as the third safety. The seventh-round pick entered camp on the outside looking in, but his steady rise has kept him ahead in reps and first-team snaps even after the Steelers added veteran Rayshawn Jenkins for competition.
Once Ramsey is back, Spears-Jennings will likely slide down the depth chart. For now, though, Pittsburgh may have found a real late-round steal in the final round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have A Clear Path Through Their QB Logjam
The Steelers quarterback room has been crowded enough to draw attention all summer, with Mason Rudolph, Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard and Drew Allar all on the roster. Rudolph in particular has become a familiar name in the conversation because of his experience, his standing as a veteran backup type and the simple reality that there are only so many reps to go around in camp and preseason.
Mike McCarthy has already spoken highly of Rudolphs command and experience, which only adds to the sense that Pittsburgh has a decision to make as the roster takes shape. His absence from a recent preseason game also turned heads, especially with the team weighing a possible path forward that could ease the logjam and reshape the depth chart behind Rodgers. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Trade Chip The Chargers Might Need
Tyler Biadaszs injury during Tuesdays joint practice has quickly changed the Chargers outlook up front, and it could push them into the market for help at center. With Biadasz now sidelined and rookie Jake Slaughter next in line, Los Angeles is staring at a thinner cushion than it expected, especially after losing a player who was supposed to stabilize the middle of the line.
That is where Pittsburgh could suddenly have something useful to offer in Brock Hoffman. The Steelers backup lineman gives teams the kind of flexibility that matters in a pinch, with experience at both center and guard, and that sort of versatility tends to draw attention when injuries hit this early. If the Chargers decide they need insurance before the situation gets any trickier, this is the kind of phone call that can turn a roster setback into a trade conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Have A Joey Porter Jr. Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Joey Porter Jr. is still at a familiar crossroads for the Steelers, with the young cornerback unsigned to a long-term deal as he works his way through a back issue on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Even with the uncertainty around his status, the organization continues to view him as part of its future, and his situation has become one of the more closely watched contract matters around the team as the offseason winds on.
Interest from other NFL teams has only added to the noise, but a move out of Pittsburgh does not appear to be in the cards this offseason. The real pressure point may come later if the sides still have not reached an agreement, when the Steelers could be forced to decide whether to lean on the franchise tag next offseason to keep one of their top young defenders in place. [Read more 🡒]