Steelers UDFA Rookie May Be Starter Week 1

Just before training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Cam Sutton to rejoin the team this season. ... knowing he'd be in the deep freeze for a while.

Sutton received an eight-game suspension not long after that, thus opening the door for undrafted rookie free agent corner Beanie Bishop to potentially make the 53-man roster.

Now, following an injury to potential starter Grayland Arnold, Bishop finds himself with the potential to be the starting nickel corner when the regular season opens.

One sign is that Steelers holding Bishop out of the 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Yes, he's dealing with a hamstring issue, but ...

“Beanie was a little bit limited on our last workday here on Thursday against Buffalo, so we didn’t want a small problem to become a big problem,” Coach Mike Tomlin said. “Obviously the sand’s going through the hourglass and he’s got a big week ahead of him, but we didn’t want to jeopardize or compromise that, so we did what we thought was prudent tonight and did not allow him to participate."

Related: Frazier Promoted By Steelers After Herbig Injury

Bishop could be back on the field in the Steelers final preseason game this week as they wrap up their preseason schedule on the road against the Detroit Lions.

Bishop is taking everything in stride, and not letting the gravity of the situation be too much for him.

“It's football,” Bishop said. “I've been playing football since I was four years old. Obviously, this is at a much higher level. Guys get paid."

And guys start. Maybe even guys like Beanie.