Tag: Darius Slay

Agent: CB Darius Slay deciding whether to keep playing

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cornerback Darius Slay is not sure he wants to keep playing and will not report to Buffalo, his agent said Thursday.

The six-time Pro Bowler was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday and claimed by the Bills on Wednesday.

“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN.

Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason, Slay was a healthy scratch in the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Bills on Sunday. That move came on the heels of Slay being benched in favor of James Pierre during a 31-28 setback to the Chicago Bears in Week 12.

Slay, who turns 35 on New Year’s Day, has 36 tackles and one fumble recovery in 10 games (nine starts) this season.

He has 28 career interceptions and 163 passes defensed in 187 games (176 starts) with the Detroit Lions (2013-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2020-24) and Steelers (2025). He was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 2013.

–Field Level Media

CB Darius Slay, Steelers agree to part ways

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay and the Pittsburgh Steelers mutually agreed to part ways, his agents told ESPN on Tuesday.

Per the network, Slay is interested in continuing his career and “will consider signing with other teams.”

Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason, Slay was a healthy scratch in the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. That move came on the heels of Slay being benched in favor of fellow cornerback James Pierre during the team’s 31-28 setback to the Chicago Bears in Week 12.

Slay, who turns 35 on New Year’s Day, had 36 tackles and one fumble recovery in 10 games (nine starts) this season.

He has 28 career interceptions and 163 passes defensed in 187 games (176 starts) with the Detroit Lions (2013-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2020-24) and Steelers (2025). He was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 2013, going on to make three Pro Bowls for the Lions.

A string of three more consecutive Pro Bowl nominations was snapped in 2024, when he started all 14 games in which he played.

–Field Level Media

Steelers CB Darius Slay (concussion) ruled out vs. Chargers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay exited Sunday night’s game against the host Los Angeles Chargers due to a concussion.

Slay was injured when he banged heads with teammate Kyle Dugger while making a tackle on Chargers running back Kimani Vidal in the second quarter. Slay was walked off the field by trainers with 11:36 left in the quarter.

The 34-year-old Slay was initially termed questionable to return before being ruled out at the outset of the third quarter.

Slay had three tackles before departing. The six-time Pro Bowler and 2017 first-team All-Pro is in his 13th NFL season and first with the Steelers.

The Detroit Lions selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played for the Lions (2013-19) and Philadelphia Eagles (2020-24) before signing with the Steelers as a free agent in March.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Steelers sign CB Darius Slay to 1-year, $10M deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, according to multiple reports.

Slay, 34, has 28 career interceptions and 160 passes defensed in 177 games (167 starts) with the Lions (2013-19) and Eagles. He was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 2013, going on to make three Pro Bowls for the Lions.

A string of three more consecutive Pro Bowl nominations was snapped in 2024, when he started all 14 games in which he played for the Super Bowl champions. He recorded 13 passes defensed and 49 tackles.

The Steelers will pair Slay with 2023 second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. He will also be reunited with former Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell, who also signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh.

Releasing Slay with a post-June 1 designation will save the Eagles $4.3 million against their salary cap in 2025. Philadelphia is reportedly also parting ways with former Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry, who spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve as he recovered from a torn Achilles tendon.

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry IV (24) warms up before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Reports: Eagles releasing CB James Bradberry

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles are parting ways with former Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.

Per reports, Bradberry will be designated as a post-June 1 release, saving the Eagles $2.1M on the salary cap.

Tuesday’s news comes on the heels of reports that the Eagles are poised to release six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay in a cost-cutting move.

That move, also designated as a post-June 1 cut, would save the Eagles $4.3 million against their salary cap in 2025.

Bradberry, 31, spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve as he recovered from a torn Achilles tendon.

“I was going into my ninth season, and you realize, look around the locker room, seeing all the young guys come in, that I’ve been around for quite a bit,” Bradberry told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “So, one, you had to cherish that. The amount of time and the amount of stuff you’ve been able to accomplish.

“And, two, it just gave me a little hunger to get back out there and try to prove myself again.”

Bradberry was a second-team All-Pro and scored the top coverage grade under Pro Football Focus evaluations in 2022. He had his worst year in the NFL in 2023, however, giving up a career-high 11 touchdown passes and a 114.3 passer rating when targeted. He allowed two TD passes and a QB rating under 50 in 2022.

Bradberry has totaled 478 tackles, 19 interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 125 career games (124 starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2016-19), New York Giants (2020-21) and Eagles.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Eagles to cut Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles are poised to release six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay in a cost-cutting move, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The move, designated as a post-June 1 cut, would save the Eagles $4.3 million against their salary cap in 2025, per the reports.

NBC Sports Philadelphia reported Slay could return to the club at a lower salary. NFL Network reported Slay wants to play one more year.

Slay, 34, started all 14 games he played in this past season, recording 13 passes defensed and 49 tackles. He broke his string of three straight Pro Bowl appearances with the Eagles. Slay has made six Pro Bowls overall, including three straight with the Detroit Lions (2017-19).

He started all four playoff games for the Super Bowl LIX champions and tallied 14 tackles and five passes defensed.

Slay has 28 career interceptions and 160 passes defensed in 177 games (167 starts) with the Lions (2013-19) and Eagles. He was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 2013.

–Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. speaks with the media during a press conference at Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

CB Darius Slay aims to play in 2025 with Eagles … or Lions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said that he plans to play next season, the final year of his three-year, $42 million contract.

Fresh off their Super Bowl victory, the Eagles may need to rework Slay’s contract to lower their salary cap number or release the 34-year-old altogether. Those options became more appealing on the heels of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell coming off successful rookie seasons.

“I’ve got one more left (on my contract), but you know how that works,” Slay said recently on the St. Brown Podcast. “Whatever they want to do, I might re-sign back, hopefully. If I ain’t, we’ll see what I’m doing because I do want to play one more year, for sure.”

At that point, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown floated the idea of a possible return to the place with which Slay began his NFL career: Detroit.

“If it is, it is. If it ain’t, it ain’t,” Slay said. “For sure, the two spots I would love to always be at is Philly or Detroit. The main two, the main ones I’d love to be at.”

Slay recorded 49 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 14 games (all starts) last season.

A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Slay had 619 tackles, 28 interceptions — including three returned for touchdowns — and five fumble recoveries in 177 career games (167 starts) with the Lions and Eagles.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

CB Darius Slay out, WR DeVonta Smith questionable for Eagles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has been ruled out for Sunday’s visit to Baltimore, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith is listed as questionable.

Slay did not practice this week while in the NFL’s concussion protocol after leaving the Eagles’ 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday with a head injury.

Smith, meanwhile, did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and was limited Thursday and Friday while dealing with a hamstring injury. He did not practice at all last week and missed Sunday’s matchup vs. the Rams, his second absence this season after missing the Eagles’ Week 4 loss at Tampa Bay due to a concussion.

Philadelphia also ruled out linebacker/fullback Ben VanSumeren (knee) and listed wide receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring) as questionable for Sunday after he missed practice on Friday.

Smith, 26, leads the Eagles with 41 receptions and four touchdown catches ands ranks second with 516 receiving yards in nine starts this season.

The former Heisman Trophy winner has 281 catches for 3,694 yards and 23 scores in 59 games (58 starts) since the Eagles drafted him with the 10th overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama.

Slay, 33, has played in 10 games this season despite dealing with a knee injury in Week 6 and a groin injury in Week 8.

In 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions (2013-19) and Eagles (2020-24), Slay has totaled 28 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), 155 pass breakups and 602 tackles in 173 career games (163 starts). He has been selected to six Pro Bowl games and was a 2017 All-Pro first-team honoree.

NFC East-leading Philadelphia (9-2) takes a seven-game winning streak to Baltimore (8-4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (2) during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Eagles CB Darius Slay (groin) leaves game vs. Bengals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay left Sunday’s 37-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a groin injury.

Slay, 33, was injured during the Eagles’ first defensive drive of the second half. He attempted to stay in the game after being hurt on an incomplete pass, but soon limped off the field.

Slay made four tackles and a pass breakup before his exit. Philadelphia did not have an immediate update on his condition after the game.

He was already playing hurt, having left the Eagles’ Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury. After missing some practice time, he was able to play last week when the Eagles beat the New York Giants.

In 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions (2013-19) and Eagles (2020-24), Slay has totaled 28 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), 152 pass breakups and 597 tackles in 170 career games (160 starts). He has been selected to six Pro Bowl games and was a 2017 All-Pro first-team honoree.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (68) against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Eagles place LT Jordan Mailata on injured reserve

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles placed left tackle Jordan Mailata on injured reserve Friday.

Mailata, who will miss the team’s next four games, joined tight end Dallas Goedert and defensive tackle Byron Young as ruled out for the Eagles’ contest against the New York Giants on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. All three players are nursing hamstring injuries.

Darius Slay (knee) joined fellow cornerback Eli Ricks (groin) as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Fred Johnson is expected to start in place of Mailata, who was injured in Philadelphia’s 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Johnson played the final 13 offensive snaps of that game in Mailata’s place.

Mailata, 27, has started all five games this season and 62 of his 67 career contests since Philadelphia selected the former Australian rugby player in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Goedert, 29, has 24 catches for 301 yards in five games this season.

Tight end Grant Calcaterra, who had four catches for 67 yards versus the Browns, is expected to replace Goedert in the starting lineup Sunday.

–Field Level Media