CINCINNATI (93.7 The Fan) – He was picked up by the Steelers just as training camp started upon his release by the Giants. He waited on the practice squad and kept working. Injuries to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Keanu Neal got Trenton Thompson elevated to the active roster and now is starting. Sunday, he made a huge play in the win in Cincinnati.
Start of the second half with the Bengals up four points and driving, on a third-and-seven Thompson steps in front of Ja'Marr Chase and intercepts the pass. Steelers would get the ball on their own 21 and drive it 14 plays for their only touchdown.
"It wasn't anything I saw, it was just playing football and being where I'm supposed to be on my drop," Thompson said. "He just happened to throw it to me. I dropped one last week, so this made up for it."
"Huge," said Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith. "They were driving, they had momentum on that drive. He came out and got that pick, it was huge. Proud of him."
"He has been ballin'," said defensive captain TJ Watt. "No one is surprised by his success. He had a phenomenal preseason. A guy that's come in and hasn't done a whole lot of talkin. He's trying to learn as much as possible and he's performing. Credit to him."
"Different guys stepping up in different situations," said defensive captain Cam Heyward. "I couldn't be more proud of a guy like that. Last week had a chance to get a pick, this week he gets a pick. Critical pick."
"Coach T challenged him during the week and said if you get this one, I'll beat on the table for you. We expect Mike T to beat on the table for him."
"Game changer," Thompson called his interception. "We needed a turnover for sure, just to get us pumped up and get the offense rolling. And obviously it took away some momentum from their sideline."
"One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "Efforts like Trent's today make that real. We're really appreciative of it. I think it's what team is about, particularly over the course of the journey that is the season. There's going to be opportunities for people to ascend and change the perceptions of who they are professionally. This guy has been excited about his opportunity and we're excited for him. He delivered."
His last interception was November 6, 2021, picking off Hawaii quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. This one the undrafted free agent from San Diego State will remember forever and it helped the Steelers get a seventh win on the season.
Thompson said he gave the ball to the 'equipment dude'. He said he is definitely going to keep his first pick and while he won't keep that starting job when Minkah Fitzpatrick returns. He'll now have someone banging the table for him.
