IR Return Will Have to Wait for Key Pittsburgh Steelers Defender

The return from injured reserve will have to wait for second-year Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr.

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Cory Trice
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 18, 2024. --Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers have downgraded cornerback Cory Trice Jr. to out for Sunday’s Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced on Saturday.

Trice remains on the injured reserve list. The Steelers opened his 21-day practice window on Thursday, so they still have plenty of time to make a decision about the second-year cornerback.

Trice, who missed all of his rookie season in 2023 with an ACL injury, suffered a hamstring injury while covering a punt against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. 

He was hoping to return this week, but despite being a full participant in practice, will not dress against the Ravens. 

“I’m pushing for this week,” Trice said on Wednesday.

The Steelers’ seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Trice has been an exciting prospect since he joined the team, with 6-foot-3 size and advanced coverage technique for a player of his experience level. The idea of pairing Trice with another big, physical cornerback from the same draft class in Joey Porter Jr. could set the Steelers up at the position for years.

Though Trice was only a seventh-rounder, that hype was at least somewhat grounded in reality. Coming out of Purdue, he was expected to be an early Day Three or late Day Two draft pick, but fell due to injury concerns.

Those concerns have proven legitimate, with two major injuries and just three games played over two season. But as Trice rounds back into the fold at mid-season, the Steelers will certainly want to get more than a short glimpse of what he’s capable of.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Wed Thu Fri Game
RB Jaylen Warren Back Nov. 14 TBD FP DNP LP QUES
CB C.J. Henderson Neck Nov. 14 TBD FP DNP DNP OUT
TE MyCole Pruitt Knee Nov. 13 TBD DNP DNP DNP DBT
WR Van Jefferson Quad Nov. 13 Healthy DNP LP FP IN
RB Najee Harris Right ankle Nov. 10 Healthy DNP FP FP IN
CB Donte Jackson Hamstring Nov. 10 Healthy DNP LP FP IN
OLB Alex Highsmith Left ankle Nov. 10 Week to week DNP DNP DNP OUT
OLB Nick Herbig Right hamstring Oct. 6 Healthy FP FP FP IN
CB Cory Trice Jr. Hamstring Sept. 22 Week to week IR FP FP QUES

STEELERS INJURED RESERVE

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Roster Status
DT Montravius Adams Left knee Oct. 18 Two weeks Injured reserve
CB Anthony Averett TBD Oct. 17 TBD Practice squad IR
WR Roman Wilson Hamstring Oct. 17 Two weeks Injured reserve
DE DeMarvin Leal Neck/stinger Oct. 6 Out for season Injured reserve
RG James Daniels Achilles Sept. 29 Out for season Injured reserve
RT Troy Fautanu R knee dislocation Sept. 20 Regular season Injured reserve
P Cameron Johnston Right knee Sept. 8 Out for season Injured reserve
SS Ryan Watts Neck/stinger Aug. 24 Out for season Injured reserve
DL Logan Lee Calf Aug. 20 Week to week Injured reserve
C Nate Herbig Torn rotator cuff Aug. 14 Out for season Injured reserve
OLB David Perales Left MCL tear July 31 Out for season Injured reserve 
ILB Cole Holcomb Left knee surgery Nov. 2, 2023 Week to week PUP/reserve
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