Pittsburgh Steelers say goodbye to a promising defender for the same reason that he fell to them in the first place
The Steelers have said goodbye to one of their more promising recent selections after unfortunate news in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been known to throw caution to the wind when it comes to medicals in the pre-draft process. They took Payton Wilson, who was flagged with a knee, the same with Darnell Washington, and the same with Troy Fautanu.
But there was one player that many assumed would go undrafted due to his extensive injury history. That was CB Cory Trice. The film was undeniable, but so were the concerns about his lower body and NFL career. Still, the Steelers used a draft pick on Trice in 2023, and while it’s fair to say he had his moments in Pittsburgh, that will no loger be the case.
Cory Trice Facts
- Played college football at Purdue.
- Drafted by the Steelers in Round 7 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Started one game in Pittsburgh, recorded one interception.
Steelers waive Cory Trice with failed physical designation
The injuries that Trice dealt with since his time in college carried over to the NFL, where just weeks into his first camp in Latrobe, Trice’s 2023 season ended after he tore his ACL during practice.
He would bounce back in 2024, showing promise in both the preseason and regular season, but he dealt with a hamstring injury that could never get cleared up, and he ended up playing in just six games.
The hamstring issues continued into 2025, as did another knee injury, and Trice missed all of last season. Still only 25 years old, the hope was that the year off from football might have served as rest and rehab, but it seems that Trice is still not ready to go based on the failed physical.
What’s next for Cory Trice?
That doesn’t mean his NFL career is over, however. We just had one of the wildest events in NFL history go down when the Baltimore Ravens ended the Maxx Crosby trade after failing him on a physical, sending him back to Vegas, where he figures to be ready for Week 1.
For such a talented player, it’s a harsh reminder of what the NFL is at its core, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw Trice back in the league sooner rather than later.