The Pittsburgh Steelers are trimming down to their final 53-man roster ahead of their regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
One question mark for the Steelers heading into the season is who will be the starting slot cornerback. On the outside, there’s no doubt Pittsburgh is starting rising star Joey Porter Jr. and new addition Donte Jackson. There has been a position battle for the slot cornerback between veteran Anthony Averett and young players Beanie Bishop Jr. and Thomas Graham Jr.
There is less competition for that starting spot now that Averett has been released according to Sports Illustrated’s Jacob Punturi.
“In a series of roster moves, the Steelers released veteran defensive back and potential slot corner candidate Anthony Averett,” Punturi reports. “The former Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders DB joined the team this offseason searching for another opportunity to contribute to an NFL defense. The Steelers were hoping that the six-year veteran could come in and be a dependable third option, but through training camp and two preseason games, he’s been just another depth player. Because of that, the 29-year-old DB is a free agent once again.”
“Averett first entered the league with the Ravens after being selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Over 51 NFL games, he’s started 27 games and accumulated 99 total tackles, three interceptions, and 23 passes defended.”
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Now that Averett has been released, the competition for the starting slot cornerback position has narrowed between the two young corners. Both are interesting options to bolster Pittsburgh’s already fantastic defense.
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