The Pittsburgh Steelers and Omar Khan made a concerted effort to add depth to the roster in the 2023 offseason. The Steelers brought in multiple free agents to boost the offensive line and defensive backfield. Pittsburgh appears to have hit multiple home runs with a celebrated 2023 draft class and is fielding the deepest roster in recent memory.
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Newest Steelers cornerback, Desmond King.
Steelers New Cornerback Desmond King Addresses Moving From Rebuilding Texans To Pittsburgh
Khan did not rest on his laurels and went to work on the waiver wire after the Steelers cut their roster down to 53 men. Pittsburgh augmented their defensive back depth by bringing in former All-Pro Desmond King. The Houston Texans released the veteran cornerback in their final round of cuts to reach the 53-man limit. Khan and Andy Weidl pounced on the opportunity to bring in a proven slot cornerback.
Ray Fittipaldo, who covers the Steelers as a beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Thursday. Fittipaldo checked in after attending the Steelers practice and surprised Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller with an update on King’s status for the home opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
“The secondary is a concern, I think,” Fittipaldo observed. “They just made a move last week to shore up their slot corner. We will see how that goes. Desmond King is not going to play this weekend. I think they acquired him for playing him down the road.”
The news caught Fillipponi, Mueller, and their audience by surprise. King, who was ecstatic to join the Steelers, might be having difficulty adjusting to his role in the Pittsburgh defense. Mueller asked if Fittipaldo asked if the newest Steelers defensive back status for the game against the 49ers was definitive.
“He is not definitively out,” Fittipaldo acknowledged. “We asked Mike [Tomlin] about it on Tuesday. We asked [Teryl] Austin about it today. Read between the lines, he’s not going to play. I’d be shocked if he gets a helmet.”
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has high expectations for both his 2023 offense and defense as they get closer to the regular season.
Mike Tomlin and Khan, for their part, have not ruled King out for Sunday. The veteran defender has not been named as a healthy scratch and could still make his debut on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Fittipaldo is convinced that he will sit out, but it would not be the first time a reporter, reading between the lines, got it wrong.
Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin could be bringing King along slowly in the defensive backfield rotation. Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley have both had good moments during the preseason. Both players have had an entire training camp and preseason in the Steelers defensive scheme. Austin and Tomlin also might be allowing Joey Porter Jr., Patrick Peterson, and Levi Wallace to demonstrate how they can work together in sub packages.
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Steelers defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin looks on and points at one of the team's practices.
"He's getting himself ready," Austin said after practice today. "If he's going to be ready this week, I can't say for sure. But he has jumped on a moving train. You can see he is a good pro. He understands NFL ball. He's getting himself up to speed as fast as he can."
Tomlin and Austin may be using the game against the 49ers as a chance to observe Riley and Sullivan's in-game action. Pittsburgh is currently carrying seven cornerbacks, and once King is comfortable in the Steelers' scheme, James Pierre, Sullivan, and Riley are the three candidates to be cut loose.
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacking duo, Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt.
It is possible that the Steelers will be comfortable enough with King playing in a couple of defensive sub packages by kickoff on Sunday. The Steelers did not sign the veteran defensive back not to play him, but there is no reason to rush him if he is not completely comfortable. If the Steelers' ferocious pass-rushing duo TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith are able to disrupt Brock Purdy consistently, King's absence for one game might go unnoticed.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you surprised at the report that King might sit out the 49ers game on Sunday? Please let me know what you think. Comment below or on my Twitter / X: @thebubbasq.
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