Cam Sutton doesn’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone as he looks to restart his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After serving an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the 29-year-old defensive back returned to the team on Monday, his first full day back at work in two months. Sutton is focused on finding his role on a team that has been performing well without him.
The Steelers, who are leading the AFC North with a 6-2 record, have done fine in Sutton’s absence. Undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop has stepped up, recording three interceptions while filling in for Sutton.
Although Sutton hasn’t been completely away from the team during his suspension — he mentioned he attended some meetings — he now faces the challenge of jumping into an active team. Coach Mike Tomlin often uses the phrase “trying to hop on a moving train” to describe this situation.
“I’ve been working and doing everything I need to do to stay ready,” Sutton said. His suspension followed a tough period in his career and personal life. Sutton spent the first six seasons of his career with the Steelers, where he built a role known for his versatility.
In 2023, he signed a $33 million deal with the Detroit Lions, but his time there was short-lived. He was released by Detroit in March after a warrant was issued for his arrest due to a domestic incident in Florida.
The charges were later reduced from felony to misdemeanor battery, and Sutton entered a pretrial diversion program in April, which required him to complete a mental health evaluation.
The Steelers took a chance on Sutton, signing him to a one-year deal in June, fully aware that he still faced possible league discipline. Sutton worked at various positions during training camp before starting his suspension.
Sutton is ready to do whatever the team needs on a defense that is ranked second in the NFL in points allowed, fourth in takeaways, and ninth in yards. “I play football, man,” he said. “I don’t care what position it is. I could be on the offensive line, I really don’t care.”
The Steelers are fairly set at cornerback, with Joey Porter Jr. showing signs of becoming a top player at the position in his second season and Donte Jackson already with three interceptions.
Sutton is expected to take on more of a nickel role, which is where he performed well during his first stint with the Steelers. However, Beanie Bishop, an undrafted rookie from West Virginia, has done well in Sutton’s absence.
“He’s just really enjoying ball right now,” Sutton said about Bishop. “Just taking every day one day at a time, and good things are happening for him.”
Linebacker Patrick Queen believes Sutton’s return won’t take away from Bishop’s playing time, but instead will make the defense even stronger.
“(He’s) a physical guy, a guy who can cover,” Queen said. “Just the utmost confidence that he’s going to communicate real well.”
The defense Sutton is coming back to looks very similar to the one he left after 2022. Minkah Fitzpatrick is still leading from his safety spot, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are still one of the top edge rush duos, and Cam Heyward continues to be a major problem for opposing offenses at defensive tackle.
The Steelers have continued to improve on defense, using different substitution packages that help create problems for their opponents.
“We’re doing a great job of just giving teams different looks, getting after quarterbacks how we should and obviously winning the field position game, getting off the field and causing turnovers and getting the ball back for our offense,” Sutton said.
Sutton has been impressed by what he has seen on film and is excited to get back to his usual role when Pittsburgh plays against surprise NFC East leader Washington on Sunday.
“I love our group,” Sutton said. “I love the continuity of our guys. I’ve spent a lot of time with our guys, a group that’s just hungry, loves playing together with each other and just excited to be around back with the guys.”
Sutton didn’t go into detail about how he has changed off the field, but mentioned that he knows what he needs to do for “the bigger picture.”
The smaller picture will become clearer next weekend when Sutton’s No. 20 is back on the field in a game that matters for the first time in 10 months.
“It’s difficult being out, not doing what you love to do,” he said. “(But) I’m ready to roll. Whatever it is, whatever (they ask of me), I’m ready to roll.”
