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Steelers Scratch Former Top 10 Pick in First Game with Team

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made cornerback C.J. Henderson a healthy scratch in his first game with the team.

Alan Saunders |

Oct 28, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers CB C.J. Henderson — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback C.J. Henderson at practice on Sept. 25, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH — Veteran cornerback C.J. Henderson will not be dressed in his first game as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers active roster.

Henderson was promoted from the practice squad to the team’s active roster on Tuesday, after first signing with the club on Sept. 15.

As they have been doing, the Steelers will go into Monday’s Week 8 game against the New York Giants with just four cornerbacks active: starters Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson, backup James Pierre and slot man Beanie Bishop. Usual backup Cory Trice Jr. is on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury.

Jackson has been dealing with a nagging shoulder injury and missed the most of last Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, with Pierre replacing him.

The Steelers have extra bodies at safety instead, with Damontae Kazee, Terrell Edmunds and Miles Killbrew serving as backups to Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott.

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.

In his time in Carolina, 6-foot-1, 205-pound Henderson was the No. 2 outside cornerback, alongside current Steelers corner Jackson. In 49 career games, starting 32, Henderson has recorded 172 tackles (139 solos), 16 passes defended, six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack and fumble recovery.

The Steelers other inactive players for Monday had already been announced, as rookie center Zach Frazier, linebacker Nick Herbig and running back Cordarrelle Patterson had all previously been ruled out.