Attrition means Steelers practice-squader Trenton Thompson, others on field to protect lead

Protecting a four-point lead in the waning minutes, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense took the field down two starting safeties and two starting inside linebackers.

“We were leaking in a lot of places today,” veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson said after Sunday’s game.

Two practice-squad call-ups made their Steelers debut during Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, and among them was a player signed after training camp began who’d spent the regular season’s first nine weeks on the practice squad.

“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” that man, safety Trenton Thompson said. “That’s a quote I like to use.”

It’s one Thompson put to use late during a 23-19 Steelers victory at Acrisure Stadium. Not only did Thompson have but a mere one NFL regular-season game of experience headed into the week, he wasn’t even part of the Steelers’ organization until training camp was a week old.

At best No. 6 on the Steelers’ safety depth chart, Thompson said he has been practicing as the backup to Damontae Kazee, who’s more defined as a free safety for the Steelers.

But when Keanu Neal suffered a rib injury after making an interception late in the fourth quarter Sunday, someone needed to fill his role that is more defined as a strong safety when the Packers had the ball again.

“I am used to a different job,” Thompson said. “But (Neal) went down and they told me I was up, and I was more than ready for it. I was trying to make a play.”

The only person making a play during Thompson’s first defensive snap in the NFL was Jayden Reed. The Green Bay rookie receiver had a game-high 46-yard reception as he went through a secondary that Thompson was helping to man with 59 seconds left and the Steelers clinging to a four-point lead.

But Thompson remained on the field for the final six snaps of the game, including when Kazee clinched it with an interception just outside the goal line as time expired.

“Won won the game,” Thompson said, “so that’s what’s important.”

Also on the defense during that final sequence was defensive back Elijah Riley. Players such as inside linebackers Mark Robinson and Tariq Carpenter also played Sunday. Injuries to starters Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander, in addition to Neal, forced the Steelers hand.

“Next man up,” Peterson said. “Coaches believe in the guys who have an opportunity to have a hat in the game, they have trust in them.”

Tomlin deployed one of his most oft-used clichés after Sunday’s game.

“Injury is as much a part of the game as blocking and tackling,” he said. “I’ve learned over the years not to worry about those that are not available to me but to focus my energies on those that are available to me to make sure that they are ready and prepared and focused, and so that’s my general mindset regarding injuries.”

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