The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out former top 10 overall draft pick, cornerback C.J. Henderson, on Tuesday.
Henderson was one of three players to work out for the Steelers at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side, along with fellow defensive backs D’Shawn Jamison and Quindell Johnson. The Steelers signed Jamison to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Henderson, 25, was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Florida for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He started eight games as a rookie in 2020 and seven more in 2021, but quickly fell out of favor in Jacksonville. Henderson was drafted by Doug Marrone in 2020, but clashed with new head coach Urban Meyer in 2021.
Henderson was traded to the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27, 2021, in exchange for tight end Dan Arnold and a swap of draft picks. He started in five games for Carolina in 2021 and then 10 in 2022 and seven in 2023. Henderson became a free agent at the end of the 2023 season and signed with the Houston Texans, but he was released on Aug. 27.
In his time in Carolina, Henderson was the No. 2 cornerback, alongside current Steelers corner Donte Jackson. Jamison, a slot cornerback, also played for the Panthers in 2023.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Henderson has played almost exclusively outside cornerback in his NFL career. The Steelers no longer seem to have a significant need in that area. Behind starters Jackson and Joey Porter Jr., they have Cory Trice Jr. and Darius Rush on the active roster, and also re-signed James Pierre to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Johnson, 24, is a safety in his second professional season. The 6-foot, 208-pound New Orleans native first joined the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, where he was a college teammate of Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III, in 2023.
Johnson was cut by the Rams at the end of training camp last season and was claimed on waivers by the Chicago Bears. Johnson played in nine games for Chicago last season, earning 106 snaps on special teams and 35 at safety.
This season, Johnson was waived by the Bears on Aug. 26, signed to their practice squad two days later, but was released from the practice squad on Aug. 29.