Once part of the Steelers future, then forgotten, CB James Pierre getting another shot

A year ago this week, James Pierre was basking in the glow of a game-clinching interception during a game in which he was an every-down outside cornerback.

It would have been easy to imagine then that, a year later, Pierre would be preparing to play a significant role in a game for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. And Pierre is doing just that this week — just not at all for the reasons that might have been expected a year ago.

At this point in 2021, Pierre was considered a part of Steelers future. Now, he’s viewed as something of a last resort.

Injuries to the Steelers’ top three cornerbacks mean that Pierre and Josh Jackson — potentially — could end up starting on the outside of the Steelers’ secondary for Sunday’s game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is how this past week’s game ended, following in-game injuries to Cam Sutton and Levi Wallace after Ahkello Witherspoon had previously been designated a gameday inactive because of injury.

“They competed well,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “They practice hard. That’s how they practice. So, we expect when the guys have an opportunity to go into a game that they’ll perform up to their capabilities and they’ll understand what we’re trying to get done.

“The thing that they were put into last week, they gave us a great effort.”

“Playing a (full) half, early in the season, I hadn’t done that in a while,” Josh Jackson said, “so I felt good to get back out there.”https://t.co/N5balF6YuL

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) October 12, 2022

Jackson, a veteran, was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad last month. Pierre is in his third season with the organization after making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He opened up last season as the Steelers’ No. 3 outside cornerback and started four of their first 11 games, including an Oct. 10 home win against the Denver Broncos in which he made the clinching interception in the end zone.

But it was only seven weeks later — after being part of a secondary that was burned in a 41-10 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals last Nov. 28 — Pierre went from starter to never seeing the field on defense again.

Until Sunday, that is, when the Steelers quite frankly had no other choice during a loss at the Buffalo Bills.

“It felt great to play (defense),” Pierre said, “but that didn’t take away the losing.”

Pierre had become a reliable special teamer, which is why he made the team coming out of camp this year. But when he was called on as the emergency kick returner against the Bills, Pierre muffed the kickoff.

“You don’t make excuses — wind, (a short kickoff), even though it was, that’s the business we’re in,” Pierre said, “so you’ve got to play against that and you’ve got to make that catch.”

Pierre atoned for the special teams error with an athletic diving play to down a punt at the 1 later in the first quarter.

And then, he was needed on defense.

“What the vets told me was, ‘No dropoff (in play),’” Pierre said. “‘Keep the train rolling.’ So I was just about getting the job done.”

It’s difficult to evaluate Pierre’s play in a game in which Buffalo won by 35 and took its foot off the gas in the passing game in the second half.

But with the statuses of Sutton (hamstring), Witherspoon (hamstring) and Wallace (concussion) for Sunday all in doubt, Pierre might have a chance to re-gain his status as part of the future of the Steelers’ secondary.

Or, maybe it’s just a temporary fill-in spot start.

Does Pierre see it as a possible chance to prove he still can be a starter in the NFL?

“It’s just a chance at getting the job done,” he said. “Do whatever it takes. You’ve got to prove nothing; just do whatever it takes to get that ‘W.’”

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