Steelers add RB Trey Sermon to active roster; Patriots rule out top CB Christian Gonzalez
For the second consecutive week, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense gets some luck in avoiding one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.
On the eve of hosting the Steelers, the New England Patriots announced that Christian Gonzalez will not play because of a hamstring injury that has prevented him from yet making his season debut.
For last week’s home opener against the Seahawks, the Steelers dodged Seattle’s CB1, Devon Witherspoon, because of a knee injury. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Witherspoon has been named to the Pro Bowl roster each of his two NFL seasons. Gonzalez — also a first-round pick two years ago — was a second-team All-Pro last season.
Third-year pro Alex Austin has played more often at outside cornerback in Gonzalez’s stead.
Through two games, Steelers wide receivers have accounted for just 14 catches, half of which have come from DK Metcalf. Metcalf did not take advantage of Witherspoon’s absence last week, having only three catches for 20 yards (albeit scoring a touchdown).
Sermon promoted
In a sign that rookie Kaleb Johnson could be in danger of being a Sunday inactive, the Steelers on Saturday added veteran running back Trey Sermon to their 53-man active roster.
Sermon, 26, appeared in 46 games over the past four seasons split between three different teams. A third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Sermon was signed off a tryout at the Steelers’ rookie minicamp in May. He has been on the practice squad since the preseason ended.
Sermon has 505 career rushing yards. He has played special teams in his career and took reps on coverage and return teams during the preseason and training camp.
Johnson, the Steelers’ third-round pick in April, has played only four offensive snaps through two weeks. The only special-teams unit he plays on is kickoff return – and it was there that Johnson made an embarrassing gaffe last week against Seattle. Johnson failed to cover a kickoff, and the Seahawks recovered it for a touchdown.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Johnson would be taken off of kick-return duties, at least temporarily.
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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