The Pittsburgh Steelers took another hit to an already-thin secondary on Sunday night. Cornerback Darius Slay was ruled out of the rest of Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers with a concussion, per multiple reports, after he left in the second quarter following a collision. The veteran did not return and will enter the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Pittsburgh had been juggling pieces on the back end for weeks, and Slay’s exit only tightened the screws on defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. James Pierre stepped in on the boundary as the Chargers kept attacking downfield with Justin Herbert, who hit rookie Ladd McConkey for a 15-yard touchdown to stretch the lead before halftime via the ESPN Box Score.
The Chargers dictated tempo for long stretches, leaning on quick-game throws and shot plays to stress Pittsburgh’s coverage rules. That approach worked even before the injury; after it, Los Angeles continued to test single coverage and intermediate windows. The live box score reflected the Chargers’ efficiency in the red zone and on key downs, the exact areas where Slay’s poise and route recognition usually steady Pittsburgh.
For the Steelers, the margin for error shrank. Aaron Rodgers and the offense tried to answer with methodical drives, but field position and penalties made it a grind. Pittsburgh needed splash plays from its pass rush to flip the script, yet Herbert’s timing and protection limited those chances. In a one-score game, that’s survivable. Against a rolling offense in prime time, it becomes a problem.
The immediate question is availability. Concussions follow a step-by-step return process with no set timetable, so Slay’s status will hinge on symptoms through the week. With the schedule tightening and opponents likely to target cornerback depth, Pittsburgh may need more dime looks with safety help over the top, plus a heavier lean on disguised pressures to protect the corners.
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