Veteran CB Anthony Averett healthy, seeks to make Steelers off tryout at rookie camp

Ryan Watts is the youngest player at Pittsburgh Steelers rookie minicamp. Born more than seven years prior to him is a player — on some basic level at face value — against whom he’s competing for a roster spot.

Cornerback Anthony Averett will turn 30 this fall. He’s part of the build-up to an NFL season for a seventh time.

Despite the 51 regular-season games, 27 starts and 114 tackles on his résumé, Averett isn’t above working out with players several years his junior — most of whom have never taken part in an NFL practice (nor will ever suit up for an NFL game).

“All I know is they called, they are giving me an opportunity,” Averett said of the Steelers, “and I couldn’t wait, man. I couldn’t wait to get out here.”

Averett is by far the oldest player at Steelers rookie minicamp this weekend. A 2018 draft pick of the rival Baltimore Ravens, Averett was an every-down outside cornerback as recently as 2021. But he last appeared in a game in 2022 for the Las Vegas Raiders, and in 2023 bounced around in large part because of multiple injuries.

He’s looking to revive his career in Pittsburgh for a team that is thin at cornerback.

“I feel like teams were scared away just to touch me a little bit (because of injury) — but hey, Pittsburgh is not,” Averett said after Saturday’s walkthrough-style practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I am here, I’m healthy — and I’m ready to go.

“I am here to show it, that’s the point.”

6-yr NFL veteran CB Anthony Averett is at Steelers rookie minicamp as a tryout.

Did he look over the roster before getting here to see if there’s an opening for him? pic.twitter.com/EjDyMOxuer

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 11, 2024

The three veterans who began last season as the Steelers starting corners — Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace and Chandon Sullivan — are all gone. Joey Porter Jr. established himself as a rookie last season, and the Steelers acquired veteran Donte Jackson via trade. But aside from that have no sure things at corner. Possibly included in that group is sixth-round rookie draft pick Watts, who is 22.

Enter Averett, a 5-foot-11, 183-pound former two-time national champion at Alabama. He spent a week as part of the San Francisco 49ers training camp last year but quickly landed on injured reserve. A month-long stint on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad followed.

If he proves healthy, Averett could end up with an opportunity to earn a spot over organized team activities and training camp.

“I mean, I didn’t really expect to be here (at a rookie camp) my seventh year in,” Averett said. “But hey, life takes you different places.”