The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially feeling the pinch, dropping to a 2-2 record on the season after a tough Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns in primetime. This isn’t just about their record, though, because that loss came right after they traded away one of their top cornerbacks, Joey Porter Jr., to the Dallas Cowboys. Talk about a gut punch for the secondary, and it just got worse when Jamel Dean, another one of their best remaining corners, went down with an injury and is likely out for a bit. Clearly, the Steelers had to make a move, and they just did.
The Cornerback Crisis Just Got Real
Let’s be honest, losing two key cornerbacks like that in rapid succession is brutal for any team, especially one trying to find its footing at 2-2. First, Porter Jr. is shipped off to Dallas, leaving a huge hole. Then, almost immediately, Dean gets banged up, creating an even bigger emergency. You’ve gotta think the coaching staff was scrambling to figure out what to do. The secondary depth was suddenly looking incredibly thin, and you can’t compete in the AFC with that kind of uncertainty in the defensive backfield. Something had to give, and fast.
Sean Murphy-Bunting: The Veteran Backup Plan?
Well, something did give. According to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer, the Steelers have gone out and grabbed some much-needed help by signing cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. Pelissero reported on Monday, “The Steelers are signing veteran CB Sean Murphy-Bunting off the Bucs’ practice squad, per source.” This is a six-year NFL veteran and even a Super Bowl champion, which definitely sounds good on paper. Murphy-Bunting brings some serious experience, with 11 career interceptions, including three just last year in 2024. Now, he wasn’t a starter or even a backup last season, but when you’re desperate for bodies and experience in the secondary, poaching a guy like this off a practice squad is a savvy move. It’s not a “needle-moving” addition in the sense that he’s going to single-handedly fix everything, but it’s a solid, intriguing upside play given their limited options right now.
With Porter now gone to Dallas and Dean on the mend, the Steelers desperately needed to shore up their depth. Murphy-Bunting is exactly the kind of veteran presence you want in that situation. This might not be the last move Pittsburgh makes either. Losing two key cornerbacks the way they did, one to a trade and another to injury, suggests they could be looking for more help in the secondary at some point this season. It’ll be interesting to see how Murphy-Bunting fits in and if he can bring some stability to that suddenly shaky Steelers defensive backfield.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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