Darius

Rush

Pittsburgh signed Rush off the Chiefs’ practice squad earlier this week. The rookie will need at least a week to get up to speed on his new team’s playbook. Aside from Pat Freiermuth landing on injured reserve, the Steelers are remarkably healthy for Week 7.

King has spent time with the Chargers, Titans, and Texans throughout his career, predominantly as a nickel corner. He hardly made an impact for the Steelers this season and now the veteran is available. Per Pelissero, The Steelers are expected to sign rookie CB Darius Rush off the Chiefs’ practice squad in a corresponding move.

The Colts selected Rush with the No. 138 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Cutting bait on him after a single training camp was an odd move, to say the least. Rush missed time because of an injury but also showed well at times and even took an interception 52 yards to the house in Indy’s final preseason game. Rush may not pan out in the NFL, but the Chiefs made a savvy move in taking a flyer on the athletic rookie.

Rush (6’2/198) entered SoCar as one of the lowest-rated three-star recruits from their 2018 class and played wide receiver for a while before moving to the defensive side of the ball full-time. He embraced the move with vigor and became a starter over the last two seasons, allowing a 48% career completion rate with an above-average 80.3 PFF cover grade. Rush played outside corner exclusively and did not commit a pass interference penalty in his college career, though he did allow six touchdowns. He ran a 97th% 4.36s 40-yard dash that was backed up by him having the highest MPH reading at the Senior Bowl (21.65 MPH), to go with absurdly long 33.375” arms that give him a huge coverage range. He displays advanced bump-and-run capabilities and great ball skills dating back to his receiver days but can be slow to diagnose routes in zone coverage and has poor instincts in run support. Rush possesses ideal length and has really boosted his stock in the pre-draft process, but has to polish up his overall technique.