The Pittsburgh Steelers' undrafted rookie is becoming an integral part of the defense

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a roll after their best game of the season. With a record of 5-2, they are now at the top of the AFC North standings. It's a start that not many outside of Pittsburgh expected, but for the Steelers it's an ideal start to their 2024 season.

Part of the Steelers' success is their overwhelming defense. They allow the third-most rushing yards per game in the NFL and their 13 takeaways are also the third-most in the league. Two of those recent turnovers came at the hands of standout rookie defender Beanie Bishop.

Bishop, nicknamed “Beanie Baby” by the Sunday Night Football commentary team, was the game’s defensive star. He defeated future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers not once, but twice, and gave his team the boost it needed in key situations.

His first career interception was something wonderful. What stood out was his ability to read the quarterback's eyes. As the play developed, Bishop pointed his hips outward. As the slot receiver advanced to the middle of the field, Rodgers thought Bishop would be caught off guard and he would find his target for an easy completion. But Bishop had read it all the way through, and as soon as Rodgers started releasing, he shifted his hips in stride and got into position to play the ball. He finished the game with an incredible catch, leaving the Jets offense stunned.

The performance would be memorable for any Steelers player, but the fact that it was an undrafted rookie makes it even more impressive. Bishop had a huge opportunity as a rookie and his game slowly became more reliable. After this performance, he has solidified his place and role in the team.

Going forward, Bishop will become even more important to the Steelers and their defense. Especially with starting corner Donte Jackson dealing with an injury that kept him from the team's win over the New York Jets, defenses can rely on Beanie Baby more and more.

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