Steelers New CB Already Using Patrick Peterson

The future Hall of Famer is helping develop another rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed another rookie this week, tossing him on the moving train as they march toward the second half of the season. Right now, there are no expectations for former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Darius Rush. But there's also a sense that he could be part of the team's future plans, with this season being an opportunity to develop into the defense. 

Rush, a fifth-round pick for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft, was a surprise cut during the team's final roster trim. He landed in Kansas City, where he spent time on their practice squad, and is now in Pittsburgh for at least the next four weeks. 

The Steelers likely didn't sign Rush to cut him after they were allowed to and are viewing him as a player who can grow into a starter-worthy candidate alongside Joey Porter Jr. With Cory Trice Jr. hopefully returning from an ACL injury next season, it'll give the team three second-year cornerbacks to test out. 

But first things first, Rush is learning the ins and outs of the Steelers' defense. And as he does so, he's utilizing a future Hall of Famer who's at his disposal. 

Rush has been speaking with Patrick Peterson, talking through plays on the sideline and then taking those lessons to the locker room, where they spent a few minutes breaking down what they saw on the field. 

"A guy like that, a guy who has played in the league for a long time, has great respect in the league and knows the game well. It's good to be in a building like that," Rush said about having Peterson around. "You can just pick his brain and it improves me and my game from an IQ standpoint rather than just going out there playing. You can really understand in the game a little bit more. So, to have him in the room and be able to have a conversation with him about football is going to help me in the long run in terms of my game from an IQ standpoint."

Peterson has already fully embraced a veteran mentorship role for second-round pick Joey Porter Jr., but adding another rookie to his workload is something he's always open to doing. 

"Guys just come up to me and just start asking questions, and when that happens, it's kind of like, all right, they wanna learn, they wanna know the ins and outs about the defense and how to become a better player," Peterson said. "So, I'm always all ears when guys come up to me and ask me questions on, you know, how to get better or questions about the defense and things like that."

Seeing how open Peterson is to help, Rush has taken full advantage - and plans to continue to. 

"Any possible way you can just say, 'hey, Pat, can I talk to you?' What's up? Hey, so he's always willing to give knowledge and just talk about anything that you need," Rush said. "So he's like a, you could say a mentor. Being with a vet like that, you gotta really take advantage if you really want to improve your game. So, that's one thing I wanna do is, from an IQ standpoint, improve my game. And I have a guy like Pat P. That's what I'm gonna take advantage of."

The Steelers aren't in a hurry to push Rush into the starting role. Right now, it's about development and finding out what they have in another young player, and how much he can help them moving forward. 

His journey in Pittsburgh has just started. Hopefully, for a player who's been on three teams early in his career, this is the final stop - at least for awhile. And in order to try and stick, he's going to put everything he's learned from veterans in this league on the field. 

"Every team has vets. So, you know, you got Kenny Moore, you got those guys, and then as I went to KC. It's a very young group, but they have a vet in Dion Bush. I mean, he's been in the league for a minute as well. So, just talking to him about what it's like to be in the league? What keeps you in the league? Things like that," Rush said. "Talking to Travis Kelcey. We got Pat Mahomes and talking to Kelcey just as he's on the field. Me going against him is just learning what does he see? What gives away coverages? Little things like that. And then to be here with Pat P. So I've been in the room with a lot of veteran guys. Just trying to take advantage of each room I'm in."

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