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Steelers Beanie Bishop on Avoiding Rookie Wall: ‘My Body is a Business’
Steelers rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop is beginning to realize how long an NFL season is and what it takes to stay as healthy as possible.
PITTSBURGH — Rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. has been one of the biggest surprises for the Steelers this year as an undrafted rookie out of West Virginia, but he is beginning to realize the dreaded rookie wall is real.
Bishop has already played in more games this season than he ever did in a single year at West Virginia and the Steelers still have three games remaining in the regular season and at least one more postseason game with a spot in the playoffs already locked up.
That’s why Bishop is using all of the resources he can to make sure he can stay as healthy as possible with the hopes of making a deep postseason run.
“My body is a business,” Bishop said. “So just being on top of it and just making sure I’m as healthy as possible and stay fresh as much as I can.”
Bishop also revealed that what he does on a weekly basis to help his body recover isn’t just limited to the Steelers facility.
The rookie said he still makes trips to his alma mater to take advantage of the resources there, too.
“I still go to West Virginia to get my body work stuff done,” Bishop said. “I get massages every week, once or twice. I probably go twice a week now but getting body work stuff done and making sure I’m staying on top of it, even if my body isn’t hurting, to make sure it doesn’t hurt or get sore. Obviously, it’s going to be sore after football games, but you want to be able to make it as least sore as possible.”
Unfortunately, things aren’t going to get any easier for the Steelers, who are in the amidst of the toughest part of their schedule, during which they must play three games in the short span of a week and a half.
That stretch began Sunday when the Steelers went on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles. This week, they must now go back on the road for a rematch against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
However, the most difficult part is still to come when they host the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas day, which falls on a Wednesday.
“Next week, we’re going to have a shorter week,” Bishop said. “We’re not going to be able to practice as intensely as we would for a normal game because it’s such a short time. Obviously, having the three games in 10 or 11 days.”
The Steelers can’t afford to look past the Ravens this week, though, with a division title on the line. If the Steelers win, they will officially be crowned the kings of the AFC North. If not, their best chance will be to win out, and that won’t be easy to do against the back-to-back reigning champions.
That’s why Bishop and the rest of his team are singularly focused on the Ravens, who he expects to be at the top of their game.
“It’s kind of a battle for the North between us two,” Bishop said. “Honestly, like a win or go home. Whoever wins is kind of going to win the North.”
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