Former Florida and current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Donovan Stiner wasted no time in his first action at the professional level on Thursday night. An undrafted free agent who signed with Pittsburgh shortly after the conclusion of the NFL draft, Stiner needs a noteworthy preseason to help secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
Early in the second half of the preseason opener in the Hall of Fame Game against the Dallas Cowboys, Stiner jumped a deep ball from Dallas quarterback Ben DiNucci, returning it 15 yards into Cowboys territory. The turnover set up a Steelers field goal.
Welcome to the NFL, Donovan Stiner. The rookie collects a pick!
đź“ş: @ProFootballHOF Game on FOX pic.twitter.com/2A9u57KcVP
— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2021
In addition to the interception, Stiner had two tackles and a pass breakup.
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Stiner appeared in 48 games during his Florida career, though he didn’t become a full-time starter until his senior season in 2020. He totaled six interceptions during his time in Gainesville. Some thought he would be a late-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, but he went unselected before landing with the Steelers.
He is currently listed third on Pittsburgh’s depth chart at free safety, according to ESPN, behind star Minkah Fitzpatrick and seventh-round rookie Tre Norwood. Stiner could compete with Norwood for the backup spot, and he’s certainly off to a good start.
Given Pittsburgh’s relative lack of depth behind Fitzpatrick, Stiner certainly has a path to making the final roster. And with a performance like this in his debut, he’s off to a very good start.
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