Steelers’ Desmond King gets increased role in practice to match his move up depth chart

The NFL requires the release of one. Fans and media sometimes hyperfixate on it.

But when the official published depth chart was broached to him Thursday, Desmond King gave a quizzical look.

“I don’t know what that even is,” King said at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Told that the pdf file sent out to media as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers weekly release listed King as a co-starter at nickel/slot cornerback — a promotion from where he was listed the previous four weeks — King shrugged.

“I don’t even know about a depth chart, honestly,” he said. “Whenever they tell me to go, I go.”

But while King pleads ignorance of his spot on the depth chart, the veteran on Thursday confirmed he has been playing a more significant role, getting more reps and participating more with the first-team defense this week than he had been getting since joining the Steelers on Aug. 31.

On a team for which coach Mike Tomlin said changes could be coming in the wake of a blowout loss at Houston this past Sunday, King taking over some playing time from Chandon Sullivan in the nickel/slot is one of the few potential tangible changes in personnel the Steelers might deploy against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

“I think he’s getting more comfortable in our system,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “That line on the depth chart represents the fact that he’s had some growth here with us and learning our system. And he’s probably ready to go. What his role will be on Sunday, could be small. Could be large. It all depends on what happens in a game, how the game unfolds.”

According to Pro Football Focus, nine players have lined up defensively against opposing slot receivers for the Steelers this season. Sullivan — at only 23% — has played the highest share of those 193 snaps. Starters at other positions (free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, outside cornerback Patrick Peterson, strong safety Keanu Neal and inside linebackers Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts) have played all but three of the remaining nickel snaps for the Steelers. Safety Damontae Kazee has played the other three. Elijah Riley, a player who competed for the job during training camp, has not played nickel. His lone defensive snaps came during Week 2 at safety after Fitzpatrick suffered an injury.

King could be ready to play a significant share of the role.

“I am excited and ready to go,” King said. “The most important thing is just trying to stay on top of all of it and making sure I am prepared throughout the week.”

The Steelers have struggled against the run (29th in the NFL in yards per game and yards per attempt allowed), and their defensive backs have been a significant part of the problem. King (listed at 200 pounds) has a reputation as a stout run defender.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Just the physicality of being in the box, run fits, I think I do a really good job with that, especially the tackling part.”

A seven-year NFL veteran who has started 53 games for three teams, King was signed after getting cut at the end of the Houston Texans’ preseason. He took over as the Steelers’ kickoff returner last week, but his role on defense might be in line for a bump going forward.

“I have been here long enough and been in football for a long time,” King said, “and with all that, it’s just going out there knowing what you’re doing and just doing your job.”

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