Cam Sutton is again from his suspension and can in some unspecified time in the future exchange Beanie Bishop Jr. within the beginning lineup. Only a month in the past this may have been a no brainer, however Bishop bounced again in a giant method over the previous couple of weeks with stable play. That included three interceptions during the last two video games, and an AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month nod from the NFL.
Even with the spectacular previous few video games, the expertise and flexibility of Sutton ought to win out ultimately.
“There’s extra to it than simply getting interceptions and I feel with Sutton’s versatility, his expertise, I feel that’s gonna come by way of and ultimately he’ll bump Beanie out of a job,” Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo mentioned through 93.7 The Fan’s Joe Starkey Present. “I don’t know if it’s gonna be in Washington. I feel they’ll work Sutton in slowly, however ultimately, yeah. He’ll take over the slot.”
Bear in mind, Sutton signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Detroit Lions in March 2023. He had simply come off a really stable season for the Pittsburgh Steelers with 15 passes defensed and three interceptions, and he proved himself to be a useful chess piece who may play within the slot or out extensive. His first 12 months with the Lions didn’t work out, Sutton taking part in purely on the skin, however he nonetheless brings that versatility again to Pittsburgh and is aware of the protection effectively from his first six NFL seasons.
Did Bishop earn himself an additional handful of snaps per recreation together with his stellar play over the previous couple of weeks? I feel he in all probability did, however that doesn’t imply he’s already higher than Sutton. The Pittsburgh Publish-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac lately said that the Steelers have been counting down the weeks till Sutton can get again into the lineup, and “that’s nonetheless the case” regardless of Bishop’s improved play.
If you happen to take stock of the protection, the weakest spot over the primary two months by a fairly extensive margin has been slot nook. I feel Bishop represented himself effectively for essentially the most half, however a rookie continues to be a rookie, and Bishop is an undrafted one at that.
If Sutton can carry out anyplace near his former degree of play with the Steelers, they’ll have above-average to nice starters in any respect 11 positions on the protection. They’re already among the finest within the league, however possibly this may put them excessive to be the undisputed No. 1 protection down the stretch of the season.
