Cory Trice Can’t Wait to Make Steelers Debut: ‘I’m Itching’

UNITY TWP., Pa. — The NFL career of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice has been defined to this point by waiting. 
Expected to be a late third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Trice ended up waiting until the seventh round, when the Steelers finally selected him.

The rookie from Purdue went out to have a great OTAs and minicamp, putting himself in serious contention for playing time come training camp, even in some ways out-shining fellow rookie Joey Porter Jr.

While Porter went on to have a fantastic rookie season, Trice tore his ACL in the first padded practice of training camp, ending his rookie season before it even started, and introducing another entire year of waiting.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice on crutches at training camp on Aug. 5, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Trice got back to action in a limited role this spring, and has been ramping up his participation in Steelers training camp this week. It’s looking like he’s going to be cleared to play in Friday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans, and there is no one more excited about getting to put on a Steelers jersey and walk into Acrisure Stadium right now than Cory Trice.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, man,” Trice said after a practice at St. Vincent College this week. “I’m just so excited really to just show what I can do.”

Trice has been rotating in as the Steelers second-team outside cornerback, along with fellow 2023 rookie Darius Rush and veteran Anthony Averett. He has also been playing some Dime corner, where he’s shared time with Rush and 2024 rookie Ryan Watts.

“I’m just getting in where I fit,” Trice said. “Wherever I see an opportunity at, wherever coach puts me, I’m just trying to make the most of it and be on the field.”

Unlike at outside corner, Dime defenders often have significant run-stopping responsibilities due to their inside alignment. Trice has been putting his surgically repaired knee on the line to make tackles in training camp, and he says he feels game ready.

“It’s feeling good,” he said. “When I’m out there, they’re trying to kill me, you know what I’m saying? … He’s gonna try to get me. So yeah, you have to be ready for that. It’s just like in a game. They’re not gonna care that I’m coming off an injury. I’ve gotta be ready to hit, be ready to cover, do all of that.”

He should also be facing a strong test in the Texans. Houston is expected to play its starters against the Steelers and has one of the deepest wide receivers groups in the league. Trice is happy for the challenge, but its sounds like he could be facing a team of middle schoolers, and he’d still be excited to get out there eon Friday.

“Whoever is out there, I’m gonna be ready,” he said. “I haven’t played ball in so long, I’m itching.”