A Healthy Cory Trice Jr. Can Elevate The Steelers Secondary

Battling adversity has defined Cory Trice Jr.'s football career since his days at Purdue.

On two different occasions, Trice Jr. tore his ACL, the most recent being in his rookie year, which kept him on the Steelers’ reserve/injured list. Last season, Trice Jr. emerged as a standout during the preseason, and when given the opportunity, he came up big in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos with an interception. A week later, he was back on the team’s reserve/injured list after sustaining a hamstring injury.

What we learned about Trice Jr. this past season is that when healthy, he is capable of impacting the Steelers’ defense with his playmaking abilities. In their Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, Trice Jr. was arguably their best defender, accounting for a pass deflection, an interception on a two-point conversion, and three tackles. Despite his struggles during the latter portions of the season, Trice Jr. still managed to register a coverage grade of 75.3, according to Pro Football Focus.

As it stands, there is a lot of uncertainty in the Steelers’ secondary. When viewing their cornerback roster, Trice Jr., Joey Porter Jr., and Beanie Bishop Jr. are the only definitive returnees, with veteran Donte Jackson’s status still up in the air. Even with the inevitability of adding new talent through free agency or this year’s NFL Draft, Trice Jr. would still be an integral part of their secondary.

For Trice Jr., this season presents his best opportunity to reach his potential. In addition to improving the nuances of his game, what will ultimately determine his success will be his overall health. With everything he has endured in his football career, one should expect him to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.