Though the Pittsburgh Steelers remain in limbo with Joey Porter Jr., they have gotten steady play from the cornerback opposite Jamel Dean. Asante Samuel Jr. entered Week 3 after two solid outings in coverage to begin his Steelers career. However, Week 3 presented a much bigger challenge.
Per PFF tracking, Samuel was charged with allowing four receptions on five targets, including two touchdowns. The Bengals’ elite receiver duo gave him, and the rest of the Steelers defense, plenty to handle. Then Pittsburgh made a change, inserting rookie cornerback Daylen Everette as a more physical matchup against Cincinnati’s physical receivers.
Everette was targeted three times, recorded a pass breakup, and did not allow a touchdown on Sunday. Late in the game, he became a difference-maker as the Bengals managed just 10 second-half points. Mark Kaboly highlighted Everette on his Kaboly + Mack podcast, and if Porter remains out, the rookie could see more action early in the season.
“Asante Samuel Jr. was playing well, as the Bengals did not really target him early in the game. He gave up the touchdown to Higgins and next thing you know, he is out of the game. Everette came in and was asked to cover Chase. He was very impressive.” Kaboly said.
Everette Following the Porter Rookie Trajectory?
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It’s somewhat ironic that Everette’s opportunities have grown around the same time Porter’s did during his rookie season. After the 2023 Steelers’ secondary struggled in Week 1, Porter gradually saw more snaps beginning in Week 2 before becoming the full-time starter in Week 8.
Everette may not have been viewed as the same level of prospect Porter was coming out of Penn State, but it is telling that the coaching staff trusted him against an elite Bengals offense.
Everette has received praise dating back to minicamp for his approach, including significant praise from Jamel Dean, who said he could become one of the best cornerbacks ever. If the Steelers have found another young cornerback to develop for the future, that would be a significant development given the uncertainty surrounding Porter’s future with the team.
Will Everette Get More Snaps in Week 4?
With the statuses of Jalen Ramsey and Porter both uncertain, Everette could see more snaps this week. Samuel could move into more of a slot role, putting the rookie on the boundary opposite Dean.
The final game-status injury report will be released Wednesday, which should provide a clearer picture ahead of Thursday night’s game.
If Everette continues to seize these opportunities and make an impact in coverage, it could become difficult to keep him from taking on a bigger role later in the season, especially if Porter remains sidelined or is traded.
