Facing a crunch at his position, Beanie Bishop fights to keep roster spot on Steelers
Beanie Bishop not only returned for his second NFL season as an incumbent starter at his position with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the player who shared slot/nickel with him last season was let go.
But after the offseason additions of veterans Brandin Echols and Jalen Ramsey, Bishop not only isn’t assured a starting gig — he is in a fight for a spot on the 53-man season-opening roster.
“He really has to fight and work to get some splash to put himself in the picture,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Monday.
Bishop made the Steelers as an undrafted free agent last season as a rookie, and he spent the regular season sharing the slot/nickel with Cameron Sutton. Bishop has generally been with the second-team defense during camp.
Three-time All Pro Ramsey has worked as the first-team slot CB when the Steelers repped the nickel package during training camp. Echols, a five-year NFL veteran, has experience in the slot and has played there during preseason games before Bishop has taken the field.
Bishop does not play outside corner. Though he plays special teams, Bishop has been pushed down the depth chart on defense by a bevy of signings, trade acquisitions and seventh-round pick Donte Kent all being added to the secondary over the offseason.
“I don’t worry about the Joneses, and neither should he,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “He should focus on improving, and he has done that. The growth between Year 1 and Year 2, it’s reasonable to expect individuals to grow not only in terms of knowledge but in terms of skill relative to their position. I like the trajectory of his progress in those areas.”
Undersized and a two-time transfer in college (he played in 2023 at West Virginia), Bishop perpetually expresses the proverbial chip-on-his-shoulder attitude.
“I can never be satisfied. I can always remember that I wasn’t drafted,” Bishop said. “It is just one of those things. I was always overlooked. I never forget that.
“I just have to keep doing what I have been doing, correcting mistakes and going out there making plays and playing fast.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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