Another Steelers Cornerback Goes Down with Injury

Steelers CB James Pierre
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre at training camp on July 30, 2023. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their third injury to an outside cornerback this week, as backup James Pierre did not practice on Friday with an injury and is listed as questionable against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pierre had been filling in for Levi Wallace and Joey Porter Jr., both of whom are nursing injuries.

Wallace suffered a foot injury during the team’s Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was a limited participant in practice on Friday. He has been ruled questionable to play in Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.

Wallace has been the Steelers’ primary right cornerback throughout the 2023 season but has been losing playing time of late to rookie second-round draft pick Joey Porter Jr. It seemed likely that this week, Porter was in line to replace Wallace as the starter after out-snapping him against the Rams.

But Porter himself was injured in practice, suffering a right calf issue that caused him to be limited in practice on Thursday and then again on Friday. Porter is also questionable. He said on Thursday that he feels he will be able to play this week.

That leaves rookie cornerback Darius Rush, who has only been with the Steelers for two weeks after coming over from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, as the only other fully healthy cornerback, beside starter Patrick Peterson.

Slot cornerback Chandon Sullivan has also played outside. Elijah Riley can also play in the slot. Outside cornerback Luq Barcoo is eligible to be elevated from the practice squad if necessary.

STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Roster Status
OLB T.J. Watt Heel Oct. 27 Unknown Active, Limited practice
CB James Pierre Ankle Oct. 27 Unknown QUES, Did not practice
DT Larry Ogunjobi Shoulder Oct. 26 Unknown Active, Full practice
WR Diontae Johnson Hamstring Oct. 26 Unknown Active, Full practice
CB Joey Porter Jr. Right calf Oct. 26 Unknown QUES, Limited practice
CB Levi Wallace Foot Oct. 25 Unknown QUES, Limited practice
TE Pat Freiermuth Hamstring Oct. 1 Multiple weeks Injured reserve, (Wk. 11)
RB Anthony McFarland Knee Sept. 13 Day-to-day IR-R, (Nov. 6) Full practice
DT Cam Heyward Core muscle surgery Sept. 10 Multiple weeks IR-R, (Nov. 16) Full practice
LB Chapelle Russell II Knee Aug. 11 Out for season Injured reserve
CB Cory Trice Right ACL tear Aug. 1 Out for season Injured reserve
RB Alfonzo Graham Torn right labrum July 29 Out for season Injured reserve
DT Renell Wren Torn right Achilles tendon May 17 Out for season Injured reserve

Nick Farabaugh provided reporting from Pittsburgh.

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