NEWS NOW: A Steelers player has joined the team out of necessity.

NEWS NOW: A Steelers player has joined the team out of necessity.

Patrick Peterson switched to safety out of necessity against the Indianapolis Colts last Saturday, but it wasn’t his first time doing so.

Peterson had appeared in almost half of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ games this season, even playing free safety for 18 plays against Tennessee in Week 9.

“That was more of an appetizer,” Peterson said. “Now, I’ve got the entree.”

Following a season-high 30 snaps at free safety due to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s injury in the second quarter, Peterson is set to earn his first career start there when the Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

Peterson is embracing his new role because he has no option. The Steelers (7-7) will be missing four of their best safeties when they try to end a three-game losing streak and return to playoff contention with a win over the Bengals (8-6).

High security This week, Damontae Kazee’s three-game punishment was upheld, and he will miss the balance of the regular season. Fitzpatrick was ejected in the 30-13 loss after colliding with Peterson on the play immediately following Kazee’s dismissal. Trenton Thompson, who suffered a stinger in the game, has already been declared out versus the Bengals. Keanu Neal is still on injured reserve due to a rib ailment.

That leaves the Steelers with a safety group consisting of Peterson, Elijah Riley, Eric Rowe and Miles Killebrew. Riley was activated from injured reserve Friday and is recovering from an ankle injury. Rowe, a nine-year veteran, was elevated from the practice squad. He was out of work for two months until joining the Steelers practice squad Nov. 20. Killebrew is a core special teams player.

As the experiment with Peterson playing free safety continued during the practice week, he wasn’t sure who would be lining up with him at the other safety spot on Saturday.

“As you know,” he said smiling, “it’s a little thin back there.”

The Steelers are counting on Peterson’s 13 years of NFL experience providing a calming presence in the secondary against the Bengals – and perhaps for the rest of the season.

“Position flexibility and his willingness and ability to do that really has allowed us to function,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “But given a normal cycle in terms of preparedness, it’s going to be less of an issue.”

When Peterson signed a two-year contract with the Steelers in free agency, it was with the understanding that a position switch might eventually be forthcoming. Beginning in organized team activities and carrying through training camp, Peterson took reps all over the defense, including slot corner and safety.

“They did a great job in that if this opportunity did present itself, I wouldn’t be out there running around like a chicken with my head cut off,” Peterson said. “I feel comfortable back there. The visual is different, but the more reps I get, the more comfortable I’ll be.”

A three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl corner, Peterson figured that at age 33, it might be time to take a career path similar to Steelers Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, who moved to safety late in his NFL career.

Peterson has envisioned playing 15 years in the NFL. He’s two shy of that goal.

“I feel like this is a great move for me at this stage of my career,” he said. “We have good corners who can be a cornerstone for this team. This could be my second career.”

Rookie Joey Porter Jr already had solidified one corner spot. With Peterson playing free safety in Fitzpatrick’s absence, the Steelers will turn to a combination of Levi Wallace, James Pierre and Darius Rush to play the other outside spot. Chandon Sullivan and Riley are options to play the slot, another position Peterson has manned this year.

“We’re not dumbing it down,” Riley said about the subpackages the Steelers plan to deploy against the Bengals. “We have very capable guys back there who are going to be able to communicate and make the necessary adjustments and go out there and ball.”

Riley had taken snaps on defense in just three games until he missed the past four games with an ankle injury. He’s ready for the challenge.

“Throw me into the fire, and I want to come out unscathed,” he said.

Rowe, 31, spent the past four seasons with the Miami Dolphins and is counting on his NFL experience to make up for the lack of practice reps he’s gotten with the Steelers prior to this week.

“I’ve played the game for nine years, so I know fast the game is, how fast you move,” he said. “(Defensive) coordinators are smart; they will tunnel in on one person if they know you’re not doing your job. I know what it takes to play in the game.”