The Pittsburgh Steelers have made roster moves to position themselves in win-now mode as we approach Week 1 and the 53-man cutdown.
But that also means they must be willing to make the tough choices to stay on this path. Like parting ways with a draft pick who has not shown much reason to keep him.
Steelers Now reporter Brendan Howe provided an injury update on seventh-round draft pick and cornerback Donte Kent on August 11, and it was more of the same for the rookie, who has been sidelined with an “ankle/foot” injury.
“Kent didn’t practice,” Howe relayed on Monday of preseason Week 2. Adding: “The seventh-round draft pick faces a steep hill to make the team.”
Kent has been seen at practice in street clothes and a walking boot throughout training camp, but the Steelers have yet to place him on the season-ending IR, which implies that they eventually expect him to return.
With that in mind, the rookie is currently missing valuable time on the practice field, along with the preseason reps needed to stand out and impress the coaching staff.
It doesn’t help that cornerback might be the deepest position on the Steelers’ roster in 2025. The influx of talent, from Jalen Ramsey to Darius Slay and Brandin Echols, far exceeds that of Kent, a late-round flier from a smaller school.
It was always going to be a difficult road for him to make the 53-man roster before Week 1, but now the Steelers rookie feels like a long shot to make it in general.
Steelers’ Cornerback Injuries Are Piling Up at Training Camp
If Kent were healthy himself, he’d have a golden opportunity right now. The Steelers have been struck by several training camp injuries at the cornerback position, and players like Echols have taken advantage of the extra reps.
Per Steelers Now, “Cory Trice (groin) sat [on August 11] after missing out on the team’s preseason opener on Saturday.”
As did Ramsey (undisclosed), who “worked off to the side with what Tomlin dubbed a ‘day-to-day’ ailment.” And Slay (ankle), who suffered a “day-to-day” injury of his own.
The latter got hurt during the first play of Pittsburgh’s famed “seven shots” drill on Monday.
“[Quarterback Aaron] Rodgers whizzed a pass by cornerback Darius Slay’s ear and into DK Metcalf’s hands in the right back corner of the end zone,” Howe noted. Continuing: “Slay rolled his ankle on the play and sat the rest of practice.”
With Slay out and Ramsey evidently limited (plus Trice out), Brandin Echols is the next corner up. Tells you a little about the depth chart behind the top three. https://t.co/h9vVIPymih
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) August 11, 2025
With Slay out, players like Echols and James Pierre have seen an increased workload. The former was awarded first-team reps across from Joey Porter Jr. on August 11.
Steelers Could Try to Retain Donte Kent on Practice Squad or Injured List If He’s Cut
Although it does feel likely the Steelers will cut Kent, that doesn’t mean he won’t remain in Pittsburgh.
Considering his injured status this summer, the odds of Kent being claimed by another franchise are slim. And that should allow the Steelers to do one of two things to keep the 2025 draft pick around.
The first and simplest option would be to retain him on the practice squad. If Kent is healthy by roster cuts, this would be the Steelers’ likely course of action.
However, if Kent is still hurt, an injured list could be more appropriate. Either way, Pittsburgh could decide to cut the rookie CB first.
There are new NFL rules that allow teams to transfer injured players straight from the 90-man camp roster to a short-term injury list at the cutdown, but you’re only allowed to use that feature on a small number of players.
And the Steelers might prefer to utilize this Week 1 loophole on more important injuries.
If they forgo this route, Pittsburgh could cut him and then transfer him to the short-term IR. That would give the Steelers more flexibility going forward.
