Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandon Boykin has played all of 13 defensive snaps so far this season and on Monday, he was asked if he’s talked to the coaching staff about his lack of playing time.
“I mean, I had conversations with them,” said Boykin, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’m going to say I’m just going to do what they ask me to do.
“I trust God that I’m here for a reason. I’m not going to say anything negative. I just feel in my heart things will turn around.”
The Steelers traded a conditional 2016 fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Boykin in August because of depth issues due to the loss of rookie cornerback Senquez Golson for the season to a shoulder injury. That fifth-round pick will become a fourth-round pick should Boykin play 60% or more of the team’s defensive snaps in 2015.
Since acquiring Boykin, who is best suited to play in the slot, the Steelers also signed former Buffalo Bills cornerback Ross Cockrell. Cockrell, who is best suited to play outside, has played 117 defensive snaps over the course of the last three games and he appears set to be a weekly contributor while fellow cornerback Cortez Allen continues to deal with a knee injury. The Duke product has played well and even recorded an interception and recovered a fumble in Thursdays night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Being as starter William Gay is currently locked in as the teams slot cornerback when the defense utilizes their nickel sub package, you can probably see why Boykin hasn’t played much so far this season. In fact, it might take an injury or extremely poor play for him to start seeing any playing time moving forward.
For now, Boykin will have to settle for dressing on a weekly basis and contributing on special teams. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2015 season. He was drafted by Eagles in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Georgia.
