LATROBE — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Artie Burns insists there’s no pressure on him to step in immediately and try to win the starting job.

Burns, the team’s first-round pick, is part of a young, revamped Steelers’ secondary looking to improve after ranking 30th in the league in passing yards allowed last season. But he has been hampered by a nagging thigh injury in training camp, which will likely cause him to miss tonight’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field.

“It doesn’t matter if I start at all,” Burns said. “If it’s going to come, it’s going to come. I just have to be patient, work hard and when it’s there, I have to make sure I take my opportunity, go out there and don’t look back.”

The Steelers selected him No. 25 overall in April, the first time the team took a cornerback in the opening round since Chad Scott in 1997. Burns, a former Miami standout, led the ACC with six interceptions last season.

Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake expects Burns to contribute to the defense at some point this season.

“When you draft a first-rounder you have high expectations, and it’s no different for Artie,” Lake said. “It’s up to Artie, ultimately, but we’ll do everything we can to get him ready.”

Burns has frequently lined up opposite star wide receiver Antonio Brown during spring practices and again at training camp. He has struggled at times against the two-time All-Pro, but Lake thinks Burns will benefit with Brown as a training partner.

“I think it’s great for Artie’s development,” Lake said. “You can lose confidence quickly and it may hurt your game initially, but for Artie, he seems to enjoy the competition. He’s taken some lumps that probably any rookie would against (Brown), but I like the way he approaches it.”

Brown said Burns has the tools to be a great cornerback if he works at it.

“It starts in practice and the film room,” Brown said. “He’s not scared to compete and that’s one thing I love about him. That’s the attitude and approach you have to have if you want to help us win.”

Another rookie defensive back, second-round pick Sean Davis, has impressed early in training camp.

Davis, a former Maryland standout with position flexibility, has rotated at safety in addition to first-team slot cornerback.