It’s been a challenging NFL journey for Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 seventh-round cornerback Cory Trice Jr., who just suffered another crushing injury at training camp with roster cuts looming at the end of the month.
Trice has seesawed on and off the injured reserve since being drafted in 2023. In two seasons, he’s only suited up for a total of 6 regular season outings, and that lack of availability could finally catch up to the fan favorite CB this summer.
“They love Trice, but he may not make the cut,” veteran beat reporter Mark Kaboly relayed bluntly on August 3, while predicting the 53-man roster. “As of right now, he does, but yet another ‘significant’ groin injury leaves his status up for grabs.”
Trice’s latest training camp injury occurred on Friday, August 1, and was labeled a “hamstring-related injury” by the Steelers. But whether it’s a hamstring or groin, or some combination of the two, the 25-year-old’s new setback could be the final dagger.
Steelers May Have No Room for an Injured Cory Trice Jr. as Secondary Depth Shines at Training Camp
Pittsburgh’s secondary is deeper than ever before in 2025. Obviously, that’s working against Trice ahead of the Steelers’ roster cuts.
Kaboly kept seven cornerbacks and four safeties on his 53-man projection, including core special teamer Miles Killebrew. Realistically, that predicted 11-man secondary could drop down to 10 players in late August, and Trice could be the odd man out.
Barring injury, Steelers starters Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay are locks to make the roster. Kaboly also had free agent signing and camp standout Brandin Echols making the cut, as well as promising second-year nickelback Beanie Bishop Jr. and veteran special teams standout James Pierre.
Pierre’s recent emergence is the biggest problem for Trice at this time, outside of his injury, of course. On August 2, Steelers Now beat reporter Alan Saunders noted that Pierre had “two picks in 1v1s after closing practice with one yesterday.”
During his roster projection, Kaboly also reminded followers that the backup CB is an “elite gunner on special teams.”
Even if Trice were healthy, he might be hard-pressed to beat out Pierre with the way the long-time Steelers staff favorite has been playing.
Steelers Predicted to Cut Cornerback Draft Pick Donte Kent
Even if the Steelers keep 11 defensive backs, Trice will have to contend with rookie seventh-rounder Donte Kent for the final spot, among others.
As of August 3, Kaboly has Pittsburgh cutting the 2025 draft pick on August 26, although they would likely attempt to retain him on the practice squad if they did.
Things just have not gone in Kent’s favor so far after the draft. It was always going to be a tough competition at cornerback in Pittsburgh, and the Ramsey trade made the road to an active roster spot really difficult for the late-round rookie.
At the end of the day, the Steelers are a win-now team in pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2025. They won’t keep a seventh-round selection on the 53-man roster just because he was drafted this spring.
That’s the theory from Kaboly and several others, at least. If they’re wrong, Kent making the roster would pretty much ensure that Trice doesn’t, barring something very unexpected.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Steelers Insider Says Fan Favorite ‘May Not Make Cut’ After Camp Injury appeared first on Heavy Sports.