Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers second-year cornerback Beanie Bishop is chomping at the bit at the opportunity to get on the field on Sunday if Jalen Ramsey can’t go.
“I always prepare to play, even if I don’t. We’re having guys get called up every week, just seeing guys around the league. I stay ready,” Bishop said on Friday.
Ramsey participated in practice with the Steelers on Friday, opening the door to an earlier-than-expected return from his hamstring injury.
Ramsey suffered the hamstring injury early in the team’s Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. Even though Ramsey was able to return to the latter part of the game, he was expected to miss playing time because of the ailment.
Brandin Echols replaced Ramsey as the Steelers’ slot cornerback against the Vikings, and would likely do so against the Cleveland Browns if the seven-time Pro Bowler is unable to suit up. Joey Porter Jr. is expected to return at outside cornerback, where he’ll line up alongside Darius Slay.
Bishop has not been elevated from the practice squad this season. He has a chip on his shoulder after being a part of the team’s final cut-down to 53 players and eventually landing on the practice squad.
After the team traded for Ramsey in the offseason and gave Echols an expanded role during training camp that included Bishop’s usual stomping grounds of slot cornerback, he saw the writing on the wall when it came to cut-down time.
So surprise was not the emotion that Bishop was feeling when his name went across — and then straight through — the NFL wavier wire.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Bishop said in early September. “I’m pissed.”
The other 31 NFL teams not wanting to take a shot on him really had Bishop steamed.
“There was teams that could have got me that obviously passed, so it just added more fuel,” Bishop said. “So I’m essentially set the league on fire, bro, whenever I get to play again. So that’s just how I look at it, just add more motivation, fuel to the fire, so.”
Bishop finished his rookie year having played in all 17 games, making six starts, and collecting four interceptions. Bishop also had seven passes defended, 45 tackles, two for a loss, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Young CB Ready to Make Impact if Number Called
