Steelers CB Steve Nelson Out vs. Chargers; Artie Burns to Start

Alan Saunders |

Oct 12, 2019

Steelers cornerback Steve Nelson did not travel with the team to Los Angeles on Saturday and has been downgraded from questionable to out, the team announced on Saturday.

Nelson, the Steelers’ starting right cornerback, suffered a groin injury in the team’s Week 5 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was limited in practice all week. Nelson was originally listed as questionable on Friday before being downgraded on Saturday.

Burns told reporters on Friday that he expected to make his first start of the 2019 season. A first-round draft pick in 2016, Burns lost his starting job six games into the 2018 season and has not started since.

The 6-foot, 197-pound Miami alum has played in 53 games and made 31 starts since the Steelers selected him with the No. 25 overall pick in 2016. He has four career interceptions, 27 passes defended, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, a safety and 141 tackles.

Burns lost his job to veteran Coty Sensabaugh last season. Sensabaugh was not re-signed by the Steelers this off-season, as they instead set their sights on Nelson, the Kansas City Chiefs starter.

With Nelson alongside Joe Haden, the Steelers have been ranked 12th in the league in passing yards per game against.