Steelers OTAs Recap Day 6: Senquez Golson remains the wild card for defensive secondary

The Pittsburgh Steelers could go from relying on a player like Al-Hajj Shabazz in the defensive secondary, to having an abundance of capable cornerbacks in 2017.

What changed? First, the team drafted two cornerbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft in Cameron Sutton and Brian Allen, but they also have 2015 second round pick Senquez Golson on the field, for now.

Everyone knows Golson’s injury history by now. His rookie season ended with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and his sophomore season was cut short by a Lisfranc injury in his foot, landing him on injured reserve for the second straight season.

Golson is back on the practice field for the Steelers Organized Team Activities (OTAs), for now, and is just looking to find his spot on the field. Well, to be honest, he is just looking to find the field. After all, Golson hasn’t even experienced a preseason game in the NFL, let alone a game which actually counts.

When looking at the team’s depth chart at the cornerback position, you have to wonder where Golson fits into the equation, but all speculation about his potential playing time still revolves around him staying healthy, something he states is his top priority heading into 2017.

Can a player who hasn’t played a meaningful snap since college in 2014 be able to jump in and pick up where he left off? The Steelers certainly could use him, and his tremendous ball skills, in the slot, but back to the depth chart. Artie Burns and Ross Cockrell are the presumed starters on the outside, which leaves Sutton, Golson and William Gay battling for the slot cornerback roles.

Whether you want to believe it or not, Golson has every chance to win this competition, and he could be the wild card for the team’s defensive secondary. Fans should remember, wild cards aren’t always a bad thing.

Listen to Golson talk to the media about OTAs so far, and how he is approaching the 2017 season...

Second Week a wrap!

The Steelers have wrapped up their second week of OTAs, with only a very vague Javon Hargrave injury to note during the first two, of three, weeks of OTAs. Check out the rest of the schedule below:

Monday, June 5 – OTA #7
Tuesday, June 6 – OTA #8
Wednesday, June 7 – OTA #9
Thursday, June 8 – OTA #10

Following OTAs is minicamp, which are mandatory, and will be held in Pittsburgh June 13 and run through June 15.

After minicamp the players usually jettison out of town before the team reports to training camp on July 27th at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.

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