The Patriots are expected to be down a key piece in their secondary when they face the Steelers on Sunday, with starting cornerback Davis ruled out for the Week 2 matchup.
That’s a significant blow for New England. Davis is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound corner in his ninth NFL season, and he has been a starter on two Super Bowl teams: last year’s Patriots and the Super Bowl LV Buccaneers. He has never earned a Pro Bowl nod, but he has built a reputation as a steady No. 2 corner who can hold up against quality receivers.
The numbers back that up. In 2025, among defensive backs with at least 300 coverage snaps, Davis ranked 25th in Tight Window percentage at 27.5% and tied for 19th in average yards of separation allowed at 2.3, according to Next Gen stats. He also gave up a catch rate of 56.5% with a catch rate over expectation of -1.1.
For comparison, Christian Gonzalez posted a 52.5% catch rate, -7.8% CROE, and a 20% tight window rate a year ago. Marcus Jones, who is expected to move into Davis’ role, allowed a 68.7% catch rate, a +3.7% CROE, and a 26.9% tight window rate while giving up 3.3 average yards of separation.
The Patriots’ absence on the back end comes after the Steelers learned earlier Saturday that their own offense would be short-handed as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was ruled out with a foot injury. With Davis unavailable, Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh may have a chance to target a weakened spot in New England’s secondary.
In Other News...
Steelers Hit With Two Costly Absences Ahead Of Patriots Trip
The Steelers head into their trip to New England dealing with a pair of absences that change both sides of the ball. Joey Porter Jr. is out while contract negotiations continue, and Michael Pittman Jr. will miss the game because of a foot injury, leaving Pittsburgh thinner at cornerback and taking away one of its receiving options before facing the Patriots.
Germie Bernard now looks set for a bigger role with Pittman Jr. sidelined, which gives the rookie a chance to make himself part of the conversation a little earlier than expected. For a Steelers team trying to stay steady on the road, the timing of these absences only adds to the challenge of getting through a tricky AFC test. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Wont Like What Joey Porter Jr. Might Be Worth
The contract picture around Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the more uncomfortable talking points in Pittsburgh, because the Steelers and the young corner still have not reached an extension agreement. For a team that has invested in developing Porter into a key part of its secondary, the lack of a deal has naturally led to trade speculation, even if nothing has been publicly finalized.
What may sting most for Steelers fans is the sense that the return would not match the talent or the expectations surrounding him. Early talk suggests Pittsburgh might only be looking at a second- or third-round pick if it ever got serious about moving him, which is a far cry from the kind of haul some around the league may have once imagined. For now, the situation is still unresolved, and the longer it drags on, the more it invites questions about where Porter fits in the Steelers' future. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Faces A Different Kind Of Test This Week
A.J. Brown landing on injured reserve changes the shape of Pittsburghs Week 2 assignment, but it does not make the Patriots passing game any easier to sort out. Mike Vrabel said Brown worked from multiple receiver spots, and with him out, New England is expected to spread those looks around, using players such as Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Romeo Doubs in different ways.
For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]