Steelers Cornerbacks Sidelined by Injuries in Crucial Matchup

On November 10, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced a significant setback in their secondary during their Week 10 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Early in the second quarter, veteran cornerback Darius Slay suffered a head injury and was forced to exit the game. After evaluation, the Steelers ruled Slay out due to a concussion.

The Steelers' injury woes continued in the third quarter when starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. went down awkwardly and had to be attended to by the medical staff. While Porter Jr. was able to walk off the field under his own power, his return for the remainder of the game was uncertain.

The Steelers' defense has been ravaged by injuries throughout the 2025 season. Their pass rush has been limited at times, and the secondary's injury troubles have been unending. Slay and Porter Jr. have both battled nagging injuries all season long, and the team has been forced to shuffle players in the defensive backfield to compensate.

With Slay out and Porter Jr.'s status in question, the Steelers were forced to rely heavily on depth cornerback and special teams player James Pierre. The veteran defensive back has found success in a limited role this season, and his performance became even more crucial as the Steelers tried to make their patchwork secondary work.