Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have opened the 21-day practice window for rookie cornerback and kickoff returner Donte Kent, the team announced on Wednesday.
Kent has been on the injured reserve list since the start of the season, after suffering a right foot/ankle injury in training camp.
The Steelers are suddenly thin at the quarterback position after waiving Darius Slay on Tuesday. Asante Samuel Jr. was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, but James Pierre is questionable to play while in the concussion protocol, after slot man Brandin Echols, Kent could be the next man up after he’s able to return to form.
Given the long layoff, and the fact that Kent missed the entire preseason of his rookie year, he will probably take a few weeks of practice to get up to speed. They do not have to make a final determination as to whether to reinstate him from the IR until his 21 days are up.
The Steelers can return a maximum of eight players from the injured reserve list over the course of the regular season. They have already used three return slots on cornerback Cory Trice, quarterback Will Howard and linebacker Will Howard. Trice remains on IR and is out for the season, but he still counts against the team’s maximum of eight because he was designated for return when he placed on IR before the cut-down to 53 players.
Four other players remain on IR with the possibility of return: quarterback Skylar Thompson, defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk, strong safety DeShon Elliott and left tackle Broderick Jones.
The Steelers selected Kent with their second pick in the seventh round, No. 229 overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft. A four-year starter at Central Michigan and three-time All-MAC honoree, Kent brings intrigue as a developmental prospect with notable athletic traits.
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Return Rookie to Practice from Injured Reserve
