Sep 14, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – When the Steelers made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Brandon Boykin Aug. 1, it was assumed he would be part of the solution to issues that plagued the team’s secondary.

But not only was Boykin not part of the solution in the Steelers’ 28-21 season-opening loss last Thursday night at New England, he wasn’t even in the equation, failing to play a single snap on defense in a game in which Patriots quarterback Tom Brady completed 25 of 32 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns.

Boykin didn’t see a defensive snap for the first time in his four-year NFL career as the Steelers went with William Gay, Antwon Blake and Cortez Allen at cornerback.

“(It was) the first time in my career but that’s not really going to change the fact that I still can contribute and will at some point,” Boykin told Scout.com Monday.

Some point could come this week when the Steelers host San Francisco in their home opener.

Boykin said he worked as the first-team nickel cornerback Monday and could fill that role against the 49ers.

“I kind of understand I’m here, I’m new,” Boykin told Scout.com. “It’s a process and all of that type of stuff. In this environment, you always have to stay positive and kind of worry about the next game. I anticipate to play this week. I’m not really sure what the reasons were for last week, but it’s out of my mind.”

The Steelers rotated defensive backs in the game as they played not only their base 3-4 defense but also five and six defensive backs.

It didn’t matter what alignment they were in as Brady found easy pickings against a pass defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last year. He became the first quarterback to complete 75 percent of his passes and throw four touchdowns against the Steelers since Miami’s Dan Marino in 1987.

The Steelers attempted to address their pass defense in the offseason, drafting cornerbacks Senquez Golson in the second round and Doran Grant in the fourth.

Golson suffered a shoulder injury at mini-camp that required surgery and that landed him on season-ending injured reserve. Grant was released last week and signed to the practice squad.

When it became obvious Golson would not play, the Steelers shipped a conditional draft pick to the Eagles to acquire Boykin, who had been Philadelphia’s nickel cornerback since his rookie season and tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions in 2013.

If Boykin plays 60 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps, Philadelphia receives Pittsburgh’s fourth-round draft pick in 2016. If he plays fewer snaps than that, the Eagles get a fifth round pick.

That might have played a factor in the Steelers’ use of Boykin in the opener, but he doesn’t care. He just wants to play.

“Any time you play in this league, you’re a competitor,” Boykin said. “You want to be out on the field. Seeing us go out there and not get the job done was a little frustrating, but you’ve got to stay positive throughout the process. It’s a long process. At some point, I intend on being able to help and contribute but I don’t make those decisions.”

The Steelers have not had a safety intercept a pass since Troy Polamalu di so against Miami, Dec. 8, 2013, a span of 20 games. It was the final interception of Polamalu’s career. … Entering Monday night’s games, Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (127 yards) and receiver Antonio Brown (133) ranked second in the NFL in rushing and receiving, respectively.