The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense is still beat up, now likely without T.J. Watt for Wild Card weekend. Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander aren’t coming back next week either (or at any point this season). But if there’s a position group that’ll look much different for the postseason, it’s safety.
For weeks, the Steelers have effectively been using fifth and sixth-string options. Patrick Peterson and Eric Rowe have finished out the year as the team’s starters and to their credit, they’ve played well. Peterson made the quick adjustment from corner and quickly warmed to the idea of playing safety on a permanent basis, even if his tackling will need some work.