Steelers' Teryl Austin Pleased With Young Safety Trenton Thompson In The Absence Of Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been torn apart by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and first-year Steeler Keanu Neal are each currently working through injuries. Fitzpatrick has not been practicing and there is no telling when he will be coming back. Neal is on injured reserve and will miss at least the next three games. One player that has stepped up in their absence is Trenton Thompson, who the Steelers signed to the active roster shortly before their Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Steelers' Thompson Impresses In Loss

Thompson played well in his first action seeing meaningful playing time for the Steelers. He went from being on the practice squad for the majority of the season, to playing 58 defensive snaps for the Steelers in a very important divisional game. Thompson's performance was praised by Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin during a media scrum on Thursday. 

"How about the young guy's preparation and being ready for his moment. Some guys, they're not ready for their moment. It comes, and they go in there and they lay an egg. He was ready for his moment and we thought he performed well. He did a lot of really good things and now the big thing is, can he continue to build on that and continue to accelerate his development as a player." 

Thompson has been on the practice squad for most of his career, which started in 2022 with the New York Giants after they signed him as an undrafted free agent. He only appeared in a single regular season game for the Giants, and was released during the offseason. This is when the Steelers signed him shortly after the beginning of training camp, and he eventually made the team's practice squad.

Thompson was initially elevated from the practice squad to the active roster before the Steelers Week 10 victory over the Green Bay Packers to provide depth in the defensive backfield while Fitzpatrick was hurt. He only played nine total snaps in the game (seven on defense, two on special teams) and recorded no statistics. His snaps on defense only came because Neal was injured late in the fourth quarter after returning an interception. The Steelers officially signed him to the active roster prior to the game against the Browns. 

Thompson was much more involved in Week 11 than he was in Week 10. He played 77 percent of the Steelers' defensive plays. He also played extremely well, recording six total tackles and two passes defensed. One of the broken up passes likely would have been a pick six, but it looked like the sun hit him right in the eyes and the ball bounced off of his chest instead.

Thompson had a great showing in Week 11 against the Browns, but it could have been better had he been able to come away with the dropped interception that likely would have been returned for a touchdown. These are the plays Austin likely wants Thompson to be able to make, and exactly what he means when he says he wants him to accelerate his development as a player. 

Thompson will have another great opportunity to make plays in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals who will be led by a quarterback making his first career start in Jake Browning. He has only thrown 15 passes in an NFL game, completing eight of them for 68 yards and one touchdown. Although the Steelers defense will be going against a backup quarterback, the Bengals receivers will be a tall task for the defensive backfield and will be a good challenge for Thompson.

How did you think Thompson played in Week 11? Do you agree with Austin and think he will continue to play well?