Donte Jackson accepts challenge in matchup with George Pickens at Steelers training camp

After a season in which the Pittsburgh Steelers finished eighth in the NFL in takeaways and tied for No. 11 in interceptions, the number of picks registered by the defense remained at zero after the first three days of training camp.

The drought ended Sunday, the final day of practice in the acclimation period that comes before the players can begin wearing pads.

The recipient of the interception was cornerback Donte Jackson, who dealt with a personal shutout last year when he didn’t have a pick in his final year with the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson intercepted an underthrown pass by quarterback Justin Fields in the first-team portion of practice.

“That’s what I’ve been known for the whole time I’ve been in the league,” Jackson said. “It’s what I always do, make plays, get around the ball.”

Last season notwithstanding, Jackson produced his share of picks as an outside cornerback. He had 14 in his first five seasons with the Panthers, and twice he reached double figures in pass breakups.

But after a season in which Jackson didn’t record an interception and had five pass deflections — the second-lowest number in his career — the Panthers were willing to trade him to the Steelers in exchange for wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

Jackson has been paired with 2023 second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback. A year ago in this setting, Porter was playing with the second team while Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson were the starters. Neither was brought back in the offseason.

“I like his energy. I like his spirit,” coach Mike Tomlin said of Jackson. “He’s a football lover, competitive. We knew that about him before he got here. It’s confirming some of that.”

Jackson has drawn third-year receiver — and No. 1 target — George Pickens in several 11-on-11 periods, and he has held his own in the competition.

Given that their lockers are next to each other in training camp, a friendly rivalry has emerged between Jackson and Pickens.

“We talk a lot, and we want to go against each other,” Jackson said. “He knows what I bring to press coverage and by competing. I know what he brings in high-pointing the ball and with his catch radius. There is work I want to get done, and work he wants to get done.

“You can’t run from that type of work if you want to be one of the best in the league.”

For his part, Pickens hasn’t been shy about letting Jackson hear it when the receiver gets the best of the secondary in a matchup. On Saturday, Pickens caught a deep pass with Porter in coverage and Jackson closing in to provide support.

“It’s all fun,” Jackson said. “We’re going to be on the same sideline come the fall. We start it here. This is where we start competing.”

Pickens has enjoyed the challenge presented by Jackson.

“He’s a fast corner, real fast,” Pickens said. “He can play the ball. It’s like he’s never running because he’s so fast.”

A second-round pick of the Panthers in 2018 out of LSU, Jackson hasn’t been selected to a Pro Bowl, and he has started 16 games in a season just twice in his career. Still, the Steelers think they have upgraded the position from 2023 by pairing Jackson with Porter.

When Porter moved into the starting lineup in his second month in the NFL, he became the Steelers’ shutdown specialist and was tasked with drawing the opposing team’s top receiver. Jackson thinks he can complement Porter in that regard.

“I’m used to covering the best guys, doing whatever it takes to help the defense get a winning edge,” he said. “That’s what I’ve done, and I see no difference here.”