On 1-year anniversary of torn ACL, Steelers’ Cory Trice ramps up reps, gets intriguing new duty

As measured by the rhythm of a football season, Tuesday was a milestone for Cory Trice in that it was during the first padded practice of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 training camp that Trice suffered a torn ACL.

“We’re (past that) now,” Trice said after emerging from the first padded practice of this camp unscathed. “We’re climbing!”

By the calendar, though, Thursday was the one-year anniversary of when Trice’s promising-looking rookie season ended before it started by way of a torn ligament in his right knee during a non-contract drill Aug. 1, 2023.

For that one-year mark out, Trice celebrated in style.

Coincidence or not, Thursday marked a significant shift in Trice’s usage during practice. Whereas he had gotten only sparse deployment during team drills over the first six practices of this camp, Trice was repping at times with the first-team defense Thursday.

The day before, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin had hinted that Trice was on the verge of a more prominent role.

“He just hasn’t had a ton of reps as of now, but as camp goes on, you’ll see his reps ramp up a bit more to give him an opportunity to compete and get back in the mix for some play time,” Austin said.

On Thursday, Trice generally served as an outside cornerback on the second-team defense and was a surprise addition as a dime/hybrid subpackage linebacker with the starting unit.

It was a reminder for any regular observers of camp who might have begun to believe the 6-foot-3, 206-pound Trice was perhaps no longer in the Steelers’ plans.

Turns out that intriguing seventh-round pick — Trice had been projected by the NFL’s website to go in the fourth round — who had stood out over last year’s spring workouts was poised to re-enter the conversation for a role in the Steelers’ 2024 secondary.

“I am feeling good,” Trice said. “I am blessed to be out here. You know, last year with how it went down, the fact that I am still out here is a blessing.”

It was the second significant knee injury for Cory Trice, who missed all but two games of his 2021 season at Purdue. https://t.co/QFn6VSJusL

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Last year was Trice’s second torn ACL. He had the same surgery performed on his left knee while playing for Purdue in 2021. But Trice rebounded the following season and helped the Boilermakers win the Big Ten West division.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin famously referenced the then-rookie duo of Trice and the 6-2, 193-pound Joey Porter Jr. as “Avatar corners” while each was standing out during organized team activities in late spring 2023.

Porter, it turned out, became a breakout star by the end of the season as a second-round pick. Trice never got the chance to show what he could do as a rookie. But he clearly impressed enough during his brief on-field work last year and in the latter stages of his rehab this spring and summer.

“Cory is a great young man,” Austin said, “a really sharp football player. He’s done some good things.”

Not all injured players who are out for the season spend a lot of time around the team. Trice was a fixture in the Steelers locker room last fall and winter, first while wheeling a cart, then on crutches and finally on his feet as rehab progressed.

Trice this week proclaimed himself “100%.” He adds a fascinating option for the Steelers as they build their defense. While Porter and veteran Donte Jackson surely will begin the season as the starting outside corners, and Trice’s body type is not ideal for a nickel/slot type, the dime offers a potential match.

On Thursday, Trice took several reps as a sixth defensive back with the first-team defense. He typically lined up where an inside linebacker would, often matching up against the tight end (usually, Pat Freiermuth).

“Wherever, really, Coach asks me to go in, I’ll go,” Trice said.

Per Pro Football Focus, during Trice’s senior college season he played 79 snaps “in the box.” During his prior full season (2020), Trice lined up there for almost a quarter of his defensive snaps.

The Steelers’ other options for a dime are to go with three safeties, use a more veteran outside corner or to scrap the idea of a “dime” (by definition) and instead rely on using two speedy inside linebackers (Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson) on passing downs.

That will shake itself out in the coming weeks. Trice still has work to do to secure a roster spot, let alone a regular-season role on the defense or an every-down starting spot in the long term.

For now, though, Trice is keeping appropriate perspective after going through a second season of his young football life lost to a major knee injury.

“I definitely appreciate (playing football) more,” Trice said. “Just being out here is (something to) appreciate. Just being able to keep stacking days together and continuing to improve.”