The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing cornerback Darius Slay and mutually parting ways, his agents told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Slay signed with the Steelers on a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason but will now look for a new home.
A Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Slay will look around the NFL for a new spot to continue his career. He will turn 35 years old on January 1.
Slay started out entrenched as a starting cornerback for the team, but a concussion opened the door for James Pierre, who stood out, to take his job. He did that, and then Asante Samuel Jr. stood out against the Buffalo Bills. Samuel will be the team’s top backup outside cornerback moving forward.
Slay was a healthy inactive on Sunday. A source told PennLive that Samuel will be elevated to the active roster after Slay’s release.
“Really it was less about Slay and more about getting a chance to see Asante Samuel,” head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday. “He’s a global NFL starter type that’s been on our practice squad…. it was about getting a look at a guy who has started a lot of guys in this league. And we did, and we liked some of things we saw.”
Pierre remains in the concussion protocol and if he can not play, Samuel will be the likely starter against the Baltimore Ravens in what is a pivotal divisional game in the AFC North.
As for Slay, he will hope to latch on somewhere that needs a veteran cornerback presence and help a team in the stretch run.
