Cory Trice Jr., a second-year cornerback, tore his ACL during the first padded exercise of training camp last year, ending his rookie season before it even began. After a grueling ten months of rehabilitation, Trice is finally back on the field. He attributes the smoother recovery process to having sustained a similar injury at Purdue in 2021. “It was actually a good thing because I knew what to expect,” Trice stated. “Going into it, I knew each month what all to expect.”
The former seventh-round selection disclosed that although he hasn’t been cleared yet, he would “be ready to go” when training camp arrives. Given the rise of Joey Porter Jr., the Steelers’ draft companion, Trice might have faded into obscurity in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Some, meanwhile, thought Porter Jr. didn’t look as well as Trice did at this time last year. Porter Jr. went on to become one of the top emerging cornerbacks in the NFL, spending every week observing the starting wide receiver on the other side. Trice is feeling more confident than ever after witnessing how his rookie season transpired. “Seeing him go out there and do it just gave me more confidence coming into this year,” Trice said.
Porter Jr. appears to be locked into an outside cornerback position for Pittsburgh, but it appears like there is competition for the position of opposite cornerback. This offseason, the Steelers acquired former Panthers CB Donte Jackson, but he needs to establish his worth ahead of some of the team’s younger players. Trice is aware that the moment will come for him to present his case. Trice concluded, “I’m just trying to get better every day.” “Once I’m outside, I know. Everything will sort itself out.”
