Steelers Put CB William Jackson III on Injured Reserve

It will be a while longer before Steelers fans get to see their team’s newest secondary addition, as cornerback William Jackson III was moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers injured reserve list, the team announced as part of a few roster moves Saturday afternoon.

Jackson, a sixth-year veteran, was brought in via a trade with Washington ahead of the trade deadline. Pittsburgh gave up a conditional sixth-round draft pick for the former first-round coverman, who was already dealing with a back issue at the time of the time of the swap.

Because he won’t play in the specified number of games, the Steelers won’t have to give up the conditional draft choice. Jackson will be required to sit out for at least four games while on the injured reserve list and will be eligible to be

Jackson suffered the injury in the Commanders’ Week 5 matchup and has missed the last three games because of it. Jackson did participate in a Steelers practice during the bye, but sat out the entire week of practices this week leading up which made his playing status for Sunday’s clash with New Orleans unlikely as it was.

In addition to Jackson, the Steelers will also be without starting cornerback Ahekllo Witherspoon on Sunday. Witherspoon was ruled out on Friday with a hamstring injury. Cam Sutton and Levi Wallace are expected to start at outside corner.

The Steelers secondary will be facing the NFL’s seventh-best passing attack in terms of yards per game (246.7), which is led by familiar foe and former Cincinnati triggerman Andy Dalton. Dalton is 3-13 against Pittsburgh in his career. His last win against the Steelers was in November 2015. He’s dropped seven in a row to the black and gold since then.