As the 2025 NFL preseason slowly comes to a close, roster battles around the league are heating up in a big way. Time is running out for those on the outside looking in to make lasting impressions. The Pittsburgh Steelers have one particular player who seems to be stuck in the middle.
Despite his meteoric rise just a season ago, it’s unclear what role cornerback Beanie Bishop will have on this year’s team. Heck, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that he’ll even make the team.
The Steelers have an abundance of depth and evaluating to do as far as the secondary is concerned. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s work is cut out for him entering Thursday’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Steelers Favorite Beanie Bishop Not Being Guaranteed a Roster Spot
Speaking to the media on Monday, Austin dove into where Bishop fits into the secondary. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a clear-cut response.
“Well, where Beanie fits in is he’s really going against some pretty good competition now at the nickel, when you throw No. 5 [Jalen Ramsey] in there, and then you throw BE [Brandin Echols] in there. He’s really got to fight and work to make some splash, to put himself in the picture. He’s been working his tail off and, like everybody, when you’re not a starter, the biggest thing that’s got to happen for you is all these preseason games are big because you have an opportunity to distance yourself from some other people in game play.
“We see you in practice every day. We know what you do in practice, but how do you distance yourself in the game situation? Do you really show up on game day? So, these preseason games are going to be big for Beanie in a sense of he’s got one left to show us some good stuff, and I’m sure he will. He’ll give it his all.”
It’s a foregone conclusion that if he makes the roster, Bishop won’t hold the same role he did in 2024. Bursting onto the scene as an undrafted free agent, he logged 548 defensive snaps. In those opportunities, he recorded 7 pass breakups and 4 interceptions. It was a successful debut campaign for a steal of a pickup.
Things are different now, though, as highlighted by the trade for Ramsey and the signing of Echols. Bishop went from a starter as a slot corner to a backup at best. His 43 snaps in the Steelers’ preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers further prove that. Although it isn’t Bishop’s fault, this is his new reality.
New-Look Pittsburgh Secondary Eyeing Rebound in 2025-26
Ramsey and Echols aren’t the only factors in this equation, either. This offseason, the Steelers signed veteran Darius Slay Jr. to be another stabilizing presence at cornerback. In order to help offset the loss of Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety, the duo of Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark was acquired. From a pure numbers perspective, the volume maintains a level of competitiveness.
The only things working in Bishop’s favor from a personnel standpoint are Cory Trice Jr. and Donte Kent being banged up. That’s given him some runway. In two games of preseason action, Bishop has recorded respective Pro Football Focus coverage grades of 80.4 and 87.3. While his subsequent opportunities may dwindle, the ones he’s had thus far in August are tremendous.
It’s clear that the Steelers wanted to see improvement in the secondary. Last year, their No. 13 ranking in EPA/pass surrendered (per SumerSports) was deceiving. A (projected) excellent pass rush should help raise both the floor and ceiling moving forward. Concerns about the age of Slay and Ramsey remain on the back end, but the talent is there.
Thursday is a big night for several players, and Bishop is certainly included. Whether it’s fair or not, he has so much hanging in the balance.
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