Steelers activate Justin Layne off Reserve/COVID List, release Breon Borders

The NFL returning to play amidst the coronavirus pandemic has been interesting in many ways, and one of those ways has been players who have tested positive and been placed on the Reserve/COVID List.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had four players placed on this reserve list, and they are:

Aarion Springs
James Washington
Jaylen Samuels
Justin Layne

Springs, the first to be put on the COVID-19 list, was recently taken off the reserve list and immediately released. Just last week Washington was activated off the reserve list and returned to Training Camp with this teammates.

Today it is second year cornerback Layne who will join his teammates at Heinz Field for the first time in 2020.

To make room for Layne, the Steelers released cornerback Breon Borders.

Layne is an intriguing prospect to watch this Training Camp. The second year cornerback out of Michigan State has the physical tools to be a legitimate player in the league, but playing behind Steven Nelson and Joe Haden doesn’t always lend itself to opportunities.

In 2019 Layne was relegated to special teams duties, but was able to overtake Artie Burns as the team’s special teams gunner on kick coverage teams. Layne filled in for Burns while Burns was out with injury, but never gave up the job when Burns returned healthy.

There is a lot of hope in Layne as the next outside cornerback for the Steelers when Haden is ready to call it a career, and Layne will finally get to put his best foot forward in 2020 as he heads to Training Camp at Heinz Field for the first time.

The only player left on the Reserve/COVID List is running back Jaylen Samuels, who should be coming off the reserve list as soon as he is symptom free and tests negative for the coronavirus.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they prepare for the upcoming 2020 regular season.