Video: Steelers' Donte Jackson Trolls Panthers; 'I'm Not Familiar with Trap Games'

Donte Jackson didn't do a lot of winning when he was with the Carolina Panthers, so the idea of his team being in position to overlook an outmatched opponent isn't a familiar one.

"What's a trap game?" he asked reporters Tuesday when questioned about the Pittsburgh Steelers perhaps overlooking Thursday's contest against the Cleveland Browns after a marquee win over the Baltimore Ravens.

"I played in Carolina, bro, for a long time. I'm not familiar with trap games."

Jackson came over to the Steelers in the offseason trade with the Panthers that sent wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Carolina.

The cornerback was a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft and played his first six seasons with the NFC South team. While he played well at times, the Panthers didn't make the playoffs a single time during his tenure.

In fact, they never finished with more than seven wins in a season and went an ugly 2-15 in 2023.

Jackson's first season with the Steelers has gone much better, as they are sitting in first place in the AFC North at 8-2. He has appeared in all 10 games and tallied 26 tackles, six passes defended and three interceptions as a key part of the secondary.

Pittsburgh now has a two-game lead in the loss column over the Ravens following Sunday's win, but it still has a difficult schedule remaining with matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals looming in addition to a rematch in Baltimore.

Given that gauntlet waiting for the AFC North leaders down the stretch, it might be easy for the team to let its proverbial foot off the gas during a Thursday night matchup with the 2-8 Browns.

It won't get much easier on paper for the Steelers for the rest of this season than a game against Cleveland, but it could be a trap game if they aren't careful. And if that became a reality, Jackson would certainly understand what it meant for next time.