The Pittsburgh Steelers are depending on veteran cornerback Darius Slay to play a major role for the team in 2025.
Signed in free agency after being released from the Philadelphia Eagles, Slay is expected to man an outside cornerback spot opposite Joey Porter Jr.
The concern with Slay is that he’s 34 years old and might not be the same elite corner he used to be. But that isn’t the only troubling thing about Slay.
According to NFL insider Adam Caplan, who also covers Slay’s former team, the Eagles, there is apparently concern over one of Slay’s knees.
“As I’m told, one of his knees is a concern. He actually had arthroscopic surgery on it late in 2023.” Caplan said of Slay on FOX Sports Radio.
“You have to wonder how well he can run,” he added. “And the Eagles learned this with James Bradbury, who they cut, who signed a big extension two years ago. You never know when a guy’s going to lose it, and they could lose it in an instant. The Steelers know this.”
A knee issue is the last thing you want to hear about a 34-year-old cornerback.
That said, there is still reason for optimism with the six-time Pro Bowler, who posted solid coverage numbers in 2024, including a completion rate of 54.7% and a passer rating of 81.9. The completion rate was actually the second-lowest of his career.
The Steelers recently brought in Jalen Ramsey, but that isn’t expected to impact Slay’s role on the boundary. Ramsey does, however, give the Steelers another option to deploy on the outside just in case things go south with Slay.
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