The Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary is stretched thin, and the name they may miss most isn’t the one that jumps out first.
Yes, the defense needs safety DeShon Elliott back right away. Yes, there’s no easy answer for replacing Joey Porter Jr. But the biggest hole, at least by the way this defense is built, belongs to current Minnesota Vikings cornerback James Pierre.
Pierre spent six seasons in Pittsburgh, carving out a role that kept expanding over time. He began on special teams only, moved into a rotational outside corner job, and eventually became a temporary starter.
Through it all, there was always a feeling he could give more. Former head coach Mike Tomlin often pointed to Pierre’s knack for showing up when the moment got bigger.
That belief was backed up last season. Over 14 games in 2025, Pierre started five and played the best coverage football of his Steelers tenure.
He was targeted 35 times, gave up just 15 completions, picked off one pass, and didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage. According to Pro Football Reference, quarterbacks managed only a 41.2 rating when throwing his way.
That kind of season earned him a starting job with the Vikings for 2026, and he has carried that momentum into this year. Working as a primary outside corner under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Pierre has fit the role perfectly. His length and aggression have stood out, and in four games he has already intercepted one pass and broken up three more on 12 targets.
The Steelers can survive losing a corner like Porter if the rest of the supporting cast is in place, but that’s been the harder part. Pierre is the sort of player who doesn’t get much attention, yet steadies everything around him.
And right now, that’s exactly what Pittsburgh is missing.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jrs Surprise Cowboys Absence Adds Context To Texans Debut
Joey Porter Jr.s first stretch with the Cowboys had already become a talking point after his debut against the Texans, and his status took another turn heading into the matchup with the Buccaneers. The former Steeler was listed inactive, leaving Dallas to shuffle its secondary plans and putting more attention on the cornerback depth behind him.
Reports around the game painted the picture of a player battling a rough illness rather than a football setback, which only added context to a week that had started with the promise of a bigger role. With Porter unavailable, the Cowboys were left to lean more heavily on other corners such as Cobie Durant and Ameer Speed, a reminder that even a recent acquisition can quickly change the feel of a defensive rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Safety Decision They Cant Ignore
The Steelers back end has become one of the more uneasy parts of the defense through the first four games, with the safety spots giving up too many clean looks and too many yards. Jaquan Brisker and Rayshawn Jenkins have both had their issues, and with DeShon Elliott potentially nearing a return, Pittsburgh suddenly has a real decision to make about how it wants to line up on the back end.
Robert Spears-Jennings added some urgency to that conversation in Week 4, even in limited action. The rookie flashed in a way the Steelers have not consistently gotten from the position group, making a defensive impact that stood out on film and putting himself squarely into the mix if the team decides it needs a different look alongside Elliott. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Rodgers Just Spotlighted A Rising Steelers Weapon
Darnell Washington has started to carve out a larger role in the Steelers offense over the past two weeks, and Aaron Rodgers has taken notice. The tight end has turned more frequent targets into 94 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the season, but the bigger takeaway from Rodgers was less about production and more about the way Washington carries himself through the work week.
Rodgers pointed to Washingtons size and physical tools as part of what makes him such a difficult piece to deal with, but he was just as struck by the way the young tight end has handled his rising status. After Washingtons recent extension, the expectation might have been for a player to relax a bit, yet his continued approach has only reinforced why the Steelers seem increasingly comfortable leaning on him in key spots. [Read more 🡒]