Aug 24, 2017 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – One thing has been certain during Mike Tomlin’s decade as head coach of the Steelers. He’s never been afraid to pit one player against another.

Nothing has changed this season.

After making it known that wide receivers Sammie Coates and Justin Hunter are fighting for a roster spot, Tomlin put cornerback Ross Cockrell on notice that he would be in direct competition for his starting spot on the side opposite Artie Burns when the Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts Saturday in a preseason game at Heinz Field.

Cockrell and Coty Sensabaugh rotated with the first-team defense throughout practice this week and Tomlin said it’s another “two dogs, one bone” battle.

“It’s shaping up to be that,” Tomlin said. “I know that Coty has done enough to merit consideration.”

Cockrell said he was informed of the team’s decision earlier this week and understands the process, especially after he had a tough game Sunday in Pittsburgh’s 17-13 win over Atlanta. Pittsburgh allowed 224 passing yards in the first half, 157 by third-string quarterback Matt Simms.

“What I know is that whoever plays better is going to play,” Cockrell said. “I intend to play better.”

That won’t be the only secondary spot that will have an open audition. First-year cornerback Mike Hilton also is expected to be worked into the slot-cornerback role in place of veteran William Gay.

The game won’t be the lone determining factor but it will be a large part of the equation.

And for a team that many consider a Super Bowl contender, having an open starting spot so late in the preseason might be considered a big issue. But because of injuries in their secondary throughout training camp, Tomlin hasn’t had a good look at what he has in a unit that ranked 16th in the NFL in pass defense last season.

“We’ve had some good production. I’ve seen some growth from individuals, Artie Burns, for instance,” Tomlin said. “We’ve got to acclimate to some new guys who might be capable of helping us, guys like Coty Sensabaugh and Mike Hilton. We’ve also have a number of guys who have missed a substantial amount of time because of injury. There’s urgency there. (But) largely, it’s been positive. I just haven’t gotten to see enough of these guys.”

Starting free safety Mike Mitchell remains sidelined with an ankle injury suffered on the first play of the second practice at Saint Vincent College.

Burns also missed about a week of practice, and Cameron Sutton, a third-round draft pick, made it through only two practices at training camp before suffering a hamstring injury.

Sutton has been slowly working his way back into action and could play against the Colts.

Senquez Golson, a second-round draft pick in 2015, suffered a hamstring injury that has wrecked his training camp for the third year in a row.

The position has been in such a state of flux that the Steelers made a trade with Washington late Wednesday night to acquire third-year cornerback Dashaun Phillips.

Phillips, who was acquired for rookie center Lucas Crowley, has played in 11 games in two seasons, including two starts. One of those came last year in Pittsburgh’s 38-16 win over Washington.

“I know he’s an NFL-capable player,” Tomlin said. “We’ll judge what he can do once he gets here.”

He’ll be asked to be ready when the Steelers open the regular season Sept. 10 at Cleveland.

That doesn’t give the players who are either new to the Steelers or injured a lot of time to make an impression.

Tomlin confirmed that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and outside linebacker James Harrison will see their first – and likely only – action of the preseason against the Colts. Tomlin also said backup quarterback Landry Jones, who has been out the first two preseason games because of an abdominal injury, will likely play for the first time in the preseason. … Running back Trey Williams, who returned a punt for a touchdown against Atlanta, said he will get an opportunity to return kickoffs against Indianapolis.