Steelers Waive Cornerback Darius Slay After Less Than A Season Together As Part Of Mutual Agreement

Amid a series of midseason struggles, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making a change on defense, waiving veteran cornerback Darius Slay, per multiple reports.

The release is part of a mutual agreement between Slay and the team to part ways, Slay's agents told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Per Schefter, the 34-year-old Slay is still interested in playing and may consider signing with another team.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Steelers are elevating Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad and waiving Slay to make room. If Slay clears waivers, he is free to sign with another team.

The Steelers are also reportedly claiming receiver Adam Thielen off waivers after his release from the Vikings on Monday.

Slay has not played since Nov. 9 after suffering a concussion, leading him to miss Week 11's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. But while Slay was limited in practice during Week 12, he was off the injury report last week but was a healthy scratch for Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Slay joined the Steelers this season on a one-year deal after four years and a Super Bowl championship with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before that, he started his career with four seasons with the Detroit Lions — a team that is in need of some cornerback depth after losing CB Terrion Arnold to a season-ending shoulder injury. Slay is a six-time Pro Bowler, earning three nods each during tenures with the Eagles and Lions.

Pittsburgh, now at 6-6 on the season, has hit a wall recently, especially on defense. After the loss to the Bills, chants of "Fire Tomlin!" rang out through the stadium as fans called for the dismissal of longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Things are bad enough that former Steelers are calling out the team's defensive struggles.

Tomlin, the longest-tenured head coach in the league, didn't criticize the calls for him to be fired.

"When you're not winning, it's not entertaining," Tomlin said. "And so I respect it, I share their frustrations."

Since taking over the Steelers in 2007, Tomlin has led the team to 18 consecutive non-losing seasons, an impressive feat even while the team has failed to win a playoff game since 2016. Pittsburgh will need to win at least three of its final five games in order to keep that streak alive.