Steelers inside the ropes: Cory Trice, others get chances at 1st-team outside CB

Grayland Arnold wasn’t the only defensive back promoted to first-team reps at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp Sunday. Cory Trice also was a regular with the starting defense.

Trice was the primary beneficiary of Mike Tomlin giving veteran outside cornerback Donte Jackson the day off for what Tomlin said was an effort to give additional opportunities to younger players at the position. Darius Rush and Anthony Averett also took first-team reps at times across from Joey Porter Jr. on Sunday.

A 6-foot-3, seventh-round pick last year who missed all of his rookie season because of a torn ACL, Trice had spent part of last week taking reps as a dime hybrid on the first-team defense. On Sunday, he was part of a pass to George Pickens from Russell Wilson that was broken up on the second snap of the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation.

Rush, meanwhile, impressed Tomlin during a team period late in practice when he jumped a route and intercepted Justin Fields for a pick-6.

“I like it, D-Rush! I like it, D-Rush!” Tomlin called out.

The 29-year-old Averett doesn’t qualify as a “young” corner, but he did not play in the NFL last season because of injury and was signed off a May tryout. So he is competing with Trice and Rush to serve as the top backup on the outside to Jackson and Porter.

• Arnold’s ascension to the first team came at the expense of Beanie Bishop, the undrafted rookie who, before Sunday, had taken virtually every first-team rep at slot/nickel throughout camp. Be it a coincidence, a sign of frustration or maybe a mere method of firing himself up, Bishop on Sunday seemed as demonstrative as he’s been throughout camp. Twice early in practice after making a play, he exclaimed loudly and raised his arms toward the crowd.

• The defense got stops on each of the first six snaps of “seven shots” before Wilson hit Scotty Miller just inside the right pylon in front of Rush and Miles Killebrew to end the drill. The coverage held up on a prior snap, compelling Wilson to throw the ball away. Wilson also connected on a dump-off to Jaylen Warren, but Warren slipped while making a cut and was tackled shy of the goal line.

• Among Justin Fields’ snaps was a similar throw to a running back (Jonathan Ward) short of the goal line who could not get into the end zone, a misfire to Van Jefferson running along the back of the end zone and an overthrow on a pass to Tarik Black in the end zone.

• A two-minute drill ended practice, with the first- and second-team offenses getting touchdowns after taking over at their own 40 with 1 minute, 38 seconds on the clock and one timeout available. The Fields-led first team advanced via receptions by Pickens (twice) and Calvin Austin III before Quez Watkins scored on a catch coming out of the slot into the right portion of the end zone.

• Kyle Allen directed the second-teamers to a touchdown by way of connections with Miller and Rodney Williams before a lofted ball down the left sideline to Duece Watts. Watts, who beat Killebrew and Thomas Graham Jr., was ruled out of bounds just short of the pylon. Allen scored on the next play by sprinting into the right side of the end zone off a read option play.

• The group of non-starting receivers collectively had a strong day during what has been a largely quiet camp for many of them. Watkins had the two-minute touchdown as well as a reception from Fields almost 50 yards downfield earlier in practice. Watts additionally beat Kalon Barnes cleanly during a passing drill early in practice. Black had a 30-yard reception from Wilson caught in stride between two defenders during a mid-practice team period. Jacob Copeland, in quick succession during that same drill, took advantage of mismatches against inside linebackers by beating Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen with well-run routes that led to scores.

• Later in practice, when the offense lined up into a situation where Miller was out wide and rookie outside linebacker Julius Welschof was across from him in coverage, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin ran in to let the defensive backs know they had to switch if they ever saw a matchup like that in a game.

• Rookie John Rhys Plumlee did not take any team reps at quarterback (he threw some on his own with tight end Matt Sokol after practice), but he did keep his spot on the top kickoff-return team. But what stood out Sunday was that Plumlee took some team reps at wide receiver, a position he played at times as a sophomore and junior at Ole Miss. Plumlee had two catches in short order in 7-on-7 play. This greatly pleased Tomlin, who approached Plumlee and slapped hands with him before patting him on the helmet.

• A Michigan State duo combined on an interception midway through practice — rookie defensive lineman Jacob Slade deflected a Fields pass and linebacker Jacoby Windmon caught it.

• As part of the offensive line shuffle, Spencer Anderson played reps at right tackle Sunday — including during the two-minute drill. Anderson had spent all of the summer focusing exclusively at guard.

• Guard Joey Fisher during one 11-on-11 running play ended up about 40 yards downfield, in a full sprint to try to block during a run by Aaron Shampklin.

• Two days after two botched first-quarter snaps during a game, another issue during an early-practice quarterback/center exchange led to a shouted expletive by Tomlin.

• Similarly, special-teams coordinator Danny Smith during a punt period, screamed, “Work your butt off for your space! We gave up some plays way too easily (Friday)!”