Any of the more casual Pittsburgh Steelers fans knew cornerback Beanie Bishop‘s name by the end of their team’s victory on Sunday Night Football.
The undrafted free agent had an up-and-down (mostly down) start to his pro career, but his surprise defensive performance versus the New York Jets changed that trajectory.
Bishop’s two interceptions of Aaron Rodgers have plenty of people talking and even prompted Brooke Pryor, Steelers insider for ESPN, to deem Bishop a “young riser.”
There’s plenty of options on a team as young as the Steelers, but it’s hard to choose anyone other than the 24-year-old rookie undrafted free agent after his two interceptions against quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Bishop had a bounce-back performance after getting picked apart by quarterback Dak Prescott two weeks earlier, and he did it in a big way, nearly returning his second career interception for a touchdown. The Steelers entered the season with no obvious heir to the slot corner spot, and it appeared the Steelers would have to get by with Cameron Sutton suspended the first eight games. Bishop, though, is showing why he earned first-team reps early in training camp.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers front office left themselves no option but to start Bishop, who went undrafted out of West Virginia, in place of suspended veteran Cameron Sutton.
While there may be room for Bishop in some packages when Sutton returns to action after the bye week, he simply hasn’t done enough to warrant keeping the slot corner role.
