With 3 questionable at CB, Luq Barcoo, Darius Rush might be next men up for Steelers

It might be Luq Barcoo and Darius Rush getting significant playing time at outside cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Other than Patrick Peterson, it’s anyone’s guess who the cornerbacks will be against the Jacksonville Jaguars if the injury report is any indication. The Steelers’ Nos. 2-4 on the depth chart at outside cornerback all were given a questionable designation to play Sunday.

Levi Wallace (foot) and Joey Porter Jr. (calf) were limited participants in Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and James Pierre (ankle) did not practice a day after suffering an ankle ailment.

Those three join veteran Peterson and newly acquired Rush as the lone outside cornerbacks on the active roster. Barcoo, who is on the practice squad after playing in the XFL this past spring, confirmed he was getting some first-team reps at outside cornerback during Friday’s practice.

“That’s just part of the culture around here, just staying prepared and ready even if you’re not the main guy up right now,” said Barcoo, whose lone NFL regular-season experience is three games for the Jaguars as a rookie in 2020. “So I was just trying to lock in … so that if my opportunity presents itself, I will be more than ready for it.”

Porter, the No. 32 overall draft pick last spring, in recent weeks has been taking playing time away from Wallace, the team’s No. 2 cornerback for most of his 1½ seasons with the Steelers. But Wallace did not make it through a full practice all week, including missing Wednesday’s session entirely.

Porter’s injury did not reveal itself until Thursday, and he was limited at each of the final two practices of the week.

Pierre, a four-year veteran, was unavailable Friday. That suggests the Steelers might turn to a rookie they signed off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad just nine days ago in Rush.

A rookie fifth-round pick who has been cut by two teams in recent months, Rush last week said he expected to be limited to a special-teams role the rest of this season with the Steelers. Instead, he or Barcoo might be depended on to play a significant role against the Jaguars.

“Definitely, you have to just be prepared every week,” Rush said, “so I would say taking the reps I did this week, I just have to be really prepared when my number is called. And when my number is called, I just have to go out and execute at a high level and meet the standard that they have here.”

Practice-squad players are eligible for a gameday elevation to the active roster three times per season. If one or more of the questionable cornerbacks are deemed unable to play Sunday, expect Barcoo to get the call-up.

“I feel like I am super comfortable with the defense,” Barcoo said, “and I’m prepared.”

CB Luq Barcoo says he ready to come off the practice squad if needed to play Sunday for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/jmM5tlMykp

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 27, 2023

While Barcoo has been part of the organization since organized team activities, Rush has just six practices with the team. If he plays against Jacksonville, it would be his NFL regular-season debut. Rush (6-foot-2, 198 pounds) converted from wide receiver early during his time in college at South Carolina.

Two weeks ago, Rush was a developmental practice-squad cornerback about to join his third NFL team in a span of eight weeks. On Sunday, he might be trusted to defend against a recent No. 1 overall draft pick who won a national title at his college rival, former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Rush said. “It would be very exciting to put that jersey on and go out there and compete and just have fun competing.”

Rush said he’s been studying the playbook and feels comfortable enough in it if he has to play extensively. He also said he could lean on the veterans in the secondary such as Minkah Fitzpatrick and Peterson.

“Whoever is out there, it’s a next-man-up mentality,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve had some guys go down, so some people have to step up. … And communication, there can be no drop-off. Because as soon as you lack communication, that’s when you get beat. So if I have to communicate a little extra to the new guys, or guys who are stepping up, that’s what I’ve got to do. But all of us know that. The guys who are coming in and may not normally play just have to elevate their play.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.