PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers may be forced to make a change at cornerback this week, riding with young depth pieces as they deal with injuries.

Both Joey Porter Jr. and Levi Wallace have been limited throughout the week due to injuries, leaving questions to their availability on game day. While Porter said he will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wallace’s status is unknown, and the team is taking precautions to ensure they’re ready if he can’t play.

Practice squad cornerback Luq Barcoo and newly-signed rookie Darius Rush will be the two who likely benefit from any absences. Barcoo confirmed with All Steelers that he was taking first-team reps during practice, and said he’s prepared if his number is called against Jacksonville.

“I prepare myself as if I am playing every weekend,” Barcoo said. “If the opportunity presents itself, I’m more than ready to step up.”

“Anytime you spend the amount of time I have here, and the more time you spend somewhere, you obviously get more comfortable,” Barcoo added. “Week by week, I’ve gotten more comfortable. I got here early in OTAs, so I feel more than ready.”

As for Rush, he’s prepared as well, and the Steelers have told him to expect some action this weekend.

“You just got to be prepared every week,” Rush said. “Taking the reps I took this week, I just got to be really prepared for when my number’s called, and when my number’s called, go out there and execute at a high level and meet the standard that they have here.”

Rush said that at this point, after two weeks of working with the team, he feels confident in his knowledge of the defense and comfortable taking the field with the starters. If he does get the call to be active this weekend, it’ll be his first regular season game in the NFL.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Rush said about his first game. “It’s going to be very exciting to put that jersey on and just have fun competing as well.”

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