Steelers Get Additional Bad News With More Injury Updates
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters safety Deshon Elliott will miss the Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have major things to fix on defense entering Week 9. But the Steelers will have to do it without safety DeShon Elliott.
In his weekly Tuesday press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out Elliott for Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Elliott could be declared out this week also with his hyperextended knee,” Tomlin told reporters.
Elliott appeared to hyperextend his leg while trying to tackle Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft in the second half Sunday night. Elliott’s foot was caught under another player, which caused his leg to bend the wrong way.
The veteran safety left the game and didn’t return. NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark reported Elliott appeared very emotional while entering the locker room.
In five games this season, Elliott has posted 38 combined tackles, including one tackle for loss. He also has one interception, two pass defenses, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Steelers’ Deshon Elliott Out in Week 9 vs. Colts
When asked to provide clarification on Elliott’s status, Tomlin answered Tuesday the veteran safety can be considered week-to-week.
One could argue that’s actually good news. Based on the nature of Elliott’s injury and his reaction to it, pundits expected it to be a lot worse.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reported Monday that Elliott could be out for the remainder of 2025.
“The Steelers are bracing for safety DeShon Elliott to miss the rest of the season, per sources,” Fowler wrote on X. “His ACL is intact, and he’s working through the nature of the leg injury, so Pittsburgh will hold out hope, but a return is not considered likely at this point.”
The Steelers are bracing for safety DeShon Elliott to miss the rest of the season, per sources. His ACL is intact and he’s working through the nature of the leg injury, so Pittsburgh will hold out hope, but a return is not considered likely at this point.
Tomlin, though, made it clear Tuesday that he didn’t have early expectations that Elliott would be out for a significant time.
“I didn’t have any preconceived notions,” Tomlin told the media. “I just always have learned over the years to wait on clarify from the medical experts. So I don’t know if I had a perception.”
Without preconceive notions that Elliott could be out for the year, it’s disappointing the safety will be sidelined for a period of time. The Steelers will particularly miss Elliott this week against the Colts.
How Steelers Replace Elliott in Week 9
The Steelers have already played two games this season without Elliott. He missed both of those contests because of a different knee injury.
In those two games, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers played a majority of the snaps for the Steelers at safety.
Those three safeties are in line for bigger roles during Week 9. According to the Pro Football Focus player grades, Clark played the best Sunday against the Packers. Thornhill, though, has the most experience in the Steelers defense.
The organization is also looking at the free agent market for additional depth. Tomlin told reporters the Steelers plan to work out safeties Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson on Tuesday.
Steelers working out former Bengals S Vonn Bell and former Ravens S Eddie Jackson today, according to Mike Tomlin.
Whoever is playing safety for the Steelers this weekend will have their hands full.
The Colts are first in points scored and yards in the league. Indianapolis is also ranked in the top 10 in rushing and passing yards.
The Steelers will need their safeties to help slow down All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. Tomlin’s unit must also do a much better job of covering tight ends.
Rookie tight end Tyler Warren leads the Colts with 492 receiving yards.
Raiders Cut Loose 25-Year-Old Former Third-Round Pick
There was some expectation that the Las Vegas Raiders could have an eventful bye week, but the team was relatively quiet. The most notable thing they did was sign former Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
However, they aren’t done tinkering with the roster. Ahead of their Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Raiders decided to part ways with linebacker Brian Asamoah.
Asamoah has been on the practice squad all season and hasn’t been able to get on the field. He first came into the NFL as a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, but has never started a game.
He joined the Raiders right before the season, but the team’s linebacker play has been solid, so there hasn’t been a reason to promote him. With linebacker not being a huge need for Las Vegas, it made Asamoah expendable. His status as a former third-round pick should give him a chance to land elsewhere, but it won’t be with the Raiders for now.
Devin White Stepping Up For Raiders
The Raiders’ linebacker room was a bit of a concern heading into the season. The team relied on older veterans over young players.
While the defense hasn’t been great, the linebackers have been solid. Devin White is one player who has stood out. The former top-10 draft pick had a rough couple of years, but he’s finding new life in Las Vegas.
He’s just trying to do what he can to make plays.
“I just try to stay cool, calm and collected,” White said recently, via Raiders.com. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to make the play when it’s presented to you and you can’t dwell on the past. One thing about me, it can be bad and you can get in your own head, or it can be good and you can stay in the moment too long. So I try to just stay out of it and just live for right now.
“If you’re consistent, you’ll be rewarded.”
Tommy Eichenberg Praises White
White has been an outspoken player in the past, which has led to some speculation that he’s a difficult player to work with. However, that hasn’t been the impression he’s leaving on teammates. Second-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg had a lot of praise for White.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” Eichenberg said. “Love the way he plays. Love the way he leads the room. Overall, just a really good teammate.
“It’s definitely something I’m trying to incorporate into my game. He’s just got a lot of energy and it’s awesome playing next to him. … He never talks about anything he’s ever done. Which is awesome.”
White has been a leader for the Raiders. He’s only on a one-year deal, but he’s making the case that he should be brought back. That said, he still has to continue playing well for the rest of the season. If he finishes strongly, the Raiders will almost certainly want to bring him back on a multi-year contract.
