Steelers Place Promising Cornerback on IR

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed cornerback Cory Trice (hamstring) on injured reserve and have promoted cornerback James Pierre to the active roster, the team announced on Tuesday. Trice will be out for at least the next four games.

Trice, who was playing at the jammer position, suffered a hamstring injury on the first punt return of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Trice had a clutch red zone interception in the third quarter of the Steelers’ Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos. It also marked Trice’s first career interception. After missing his entire rookie season due to an ACL injury, Trice’s teammates were thrilled for him to get rewarded with a game-changing interception.

“Cory stepped up in the moment,” defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. “What a heck of a way for a guy who was hurt all last year to be ready for that moment and make a big play for us and keep seven (points) off the board.”

Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt was also proud of Trice.

“How about Cory Trice? All that he’s been able overcome. Just seeing all the work he puts in, to see him get that interception is huge,” Watt said.

The Steelers drafted Trice with the 241st pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft after he fell down draft boards due to pre-draft medical concerns.

Trice bounced back in 2022 after a torn ACL ended his previous season early. He played in all 13 games for Purdue and tallied 34 tackles, two interceptions, a career-high 12 passes defended, and two tackles for loss. His pick-six against the Indiana Hoosiers helped seal the Big Ten West title outright for the Boilermakers.

After suffering an ACL injury in two of the past three years (dating back to college), Trice will now have to deal with another setback due to a hamstring injury.

Pierre signed to the Steelers’ practice squad last week and was elevated for the game against L.A. Darius Rush was a healthy scratch.

Alan Saunders provided reporting for this story.