Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. believes CBs 'can really take over'

Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. plans to take his play to another level heading into his second season. 

He doesn't believe he'll be the only player in Pittsburgh's secondary to do so this year, either.

On Thursday, Porter Jr. praised fellow second-year cornerbacks Darius Rush and Cory Trice Jr.

"Man, they've been doing great so far," Porter Jr. said. "Darius has been stepping up a lot. Cory is just now getting his feet back in the water, and he's been making plays. I'm really just happy for both of them."

Rush has already had quite the NFL journey since beginning his career as a fifth-round pick by the Colts a year ago.

Indianapolis waived the 24-year-old last August and he was claimed by the Chiefs. However, Rush's stint in Kansas City didn't last long, as the Steelers signed him off the Chiefs practice squad in October.

On the other hand, Trice tore his ACL in the first padded training camp practice last year, ending his rookie season before it started.

Some believed the former seventh-round pick looked better than Porter Jr. did this time last year and now he is trying to prove the same this season.

Trice is not cleared yet, but he revealed by the time training camp rolls around that he'll "be ready to go."

That has Porter Jr. excited for what the room could bring in 2024.

"I keep telling those guys every day, 'We can really take this over if we just keep stacking days and doing what we're supposed to do,'" Porter Jr. added.

Rush and Trice will first have to beat out veteran Donte Jackson, for whom Pittsburgh traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson in March, for the starting job opposite Porter Jr., but they seem to have an early vote of confidence from their fellow draft classmate.

All quotations are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.