Overview
- Mike Tomlin said Darius Slay will resume his starting job at cornerback upon clearing concussion protocol after missing the Bengals game.
- Tomlin added that James Pierre earned continued defensive snaps following his breakout against Cincinnati, not just special-teams work.
- Pierre logged two passes defensed versus the Bengals, including a key play on Ja’Marr Chase, and has posted strong grades in limited defensive snaps this season.
- Slay sustained a Week 11 concussion against the Chargers, and Tomlin indicated he is trending toward availability for Sunday in Chicago.
- Reporting also highlights broader secondary changes—Kyle Dugger’s arrival and Jalen Ramsey’s move to safety—which, along with Pierre’s rise, have boosted recent performance.