Patrick Peterson ready to for another taste of playing free safety in depleted Steelers secondary

When Patrick Peterson moved to safety out of necessity last Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts, it wasn’t his first dalliance playing the position.

Peterson had taken occasional snaps there in about half of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ games this season, even playing free safety for 18 plays in Week 9 against Tennessee.

“That was more of an appetizer,” Peterson said. “Now, I’ve got the entree.”

On the heels of logging a season-high 30 snaps at free safety after a second-quarter injury to Minkah Fitzpatrick, Peterson is bracing to make his first career start there when the Steelers play the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

Peterson is embracing the new role, not that he has any other choice. The Steelers (7-7) will be without the four top safeties on their roster when they try to snap a three-game losing streak and get back into playoff position with a win over the Bengals (8-6).

Strong safety Damontae Kazee’s three-game suspension was upheld this week, and he’ll miss the rest of the regular season. Fitzpatrick is out after colliding with Peterson on the play immediately following Kazee’s ejection in the 30-13 loss. Backup Trenton Thompson suffered a stinger in the game and already has been ruled out against the Bengals. Keanu Neal remains on injured reserve with a rib injury.

That leaves the Steelers with a safety group consisting of Peterson, Elijah Riley, Eric Rowe and Miles Killebrew. Riley was activated from injured reserve Friday and is recovering from an ankle injury. Rowe, a nine-year veteran, was elevated from the practice squad. He was out of work for two months until joining the Steelers practice squad Nov. 20. Killebrew is a core special teams player.

As the experiment with Peterson playing free safety continued during the practice week, he wasn’t sure who would be lining up with him at the other safety spot Saturday.

“As you know,” he said, smiling, “it’s a little thin back there.”

The Steelers are counting on Peterson’s 13 years of NFL experience providing a calming presence in the secondary against the Bengals. And perhaps for the rest of the season.

“Position flexibility and his willingness and ability to do that really has allowed us to function,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “But given a normal cycle in terms of preparedness, it’s going to be less of an issue.”

When Peterson signed a two-year contract with the Steelers in free agency, it was with the understanding that a position switch eventually might be forthcoming. Beginning in organized team activities and carrying through training camp, Peterson took reps all over the defense, including slot corner and safety.

“They did a great job in that if this opportunity did present itself, I wouldn’t be out there running around like a chicken with my head cut off,” Peterson said. “I feel comfortable back there. The visual is different, but the more reps I get, the more comfortable I’ll be.”

A three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl corner, Peterson figured that at age 33, it might be time to take a path similar to Steelers Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, who moved to safety late in his NFL career.

Peterson has envisioned playing 15 years in the NFL. He’s two shy of that goal.

“I feel like this is a great move for me at this stage of my career,” he said. “We have good corners who can be a cornerstone for this team. This could be my second career.”

Rookie Joey Porter Jr. already had solidified one corner spot. With Peterson playing free safety in Fitzpatrick’s absence, the Steelers will turn to a combination of Levi Wallace, James Pierre and Darius Rush to play the other outside spot. Chandon Sullivan and Riley are options to play the slot, another position Peterson has manned this year.

“We’re not dumbing it down,” Riley said about the subpackages the Steelers plan to deploy against the Bengals. “We have very capable guys back there who are going to be able to communicate and make the necessary adjustments and go out there and ball.”

Riley had taken snaps on defense in just three games until he missed the past four games with an ankle injury. He’s ready for the challenge.

“Throw me into the fire, and I want to come out unscathed,” he said.

Rowe, 31, spent the past four seasons with the Miami Dolphins and is counting on his NFL experience to make up for the lack of practice reps he’s gotten with the Steelers before this week.

“I’ve played the game for nine years, so I know how fast the game is, how fast you move,” he said. “(Defensive) coordinators are smart. They will tunnel in on one person if they know you’re not doing your job. I know what it takes to play in the game.”