According to 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi the Steelers were looking to acquire a player before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Poni said he believes the Steelers were looking at cornerback William Jackson III.
Poni adds the Steelers were very interested in Jackson back in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals and the Steelers ended up with cornerback Artie Burns.
“It would’ve been a rental-type move,” said Poni.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Cam Sutton all missed the game on Sunday.
He adds that it wouldn’t have been to get rid of a player, a quarterback like Mitch Trubisky or Mason Rudolph or a wide receiver like Chase Claypool.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler speculated that Jackson’s current team, the Washington Commanders, were looking to move him.
The Steelers do their draft homework with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin saying that look at players they know they won’t be able to draft, in case they can do business with them later.
That seems to have been the case with Jackson who has started in four games for Washington this season with 16 total tackles, one tackle for a loss and two passes defended.
Poni doesn't believe the Steelers are still interested, with their starters likely returning and their backups playing well enough to keep the Bucs to 18 points.
His play had declined over the past few seasons and would likely command a late-round draft pick.
Poni says it’s an example of the Steelers and Tomlin believing they can still do well in 2022, even though they were at 1-4 before the game against the Buccaneers.