Steelers Starter ‘Out for Foreseeable Future’ & ‘Likely the Season’: Insider
Things have escalated from bad to worse for Pittsburgh Steelers starting safety DeShon Elliott, who was initially only ruled out for the Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
On October 31, the Steelers announced that they would be transferring Elliott to the injured reserve, along with veteran defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale. This prompted an update from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, and it wasn’t good news.
“The Steelers placed S DeShon Elliott and DT Daniel Ekuale on Injured Reserve,” Rapoport informed. “Ekuale tore his ACL and Elliott (knee) is out for the foreseeable future, likely the season, as well.”
Pittsburgh has been very cryptic about Elliott’s knee injury, but it didn’t look good when it occurred, as the veteran was in visible pain. Now, it appears the Steelers’ worst fears might be a reality, as Elliott will be sidelined for at least four weeks and possibly much longer.
Steelers’ Week 9 Actions Hinted DeShon Elliott’s Injury Could Be Long-Term
They say actions speak louder than words, and although the Steelers kept the long-term prognosis of Elliott’s injury a secret this week, their actions hinted that he could be out a while.
The Steelers first signed a former starting safety in Darrick Forest, then agreed to a trade with the New England Patriots for ex-starter Kyle Dugger.
Between Forest and Dugger, head coach Mike Tomlin is likely hoping he can patch up the back end of his defense without Elliott. Of course, he also has free agent acquisition Juan Thornhill as a potentially important chess piece to work with.
“[Elliott is] a significant component of what we do, particularly relative to some of the things that Indy does well,” Tomlin told reporters this week. “He is a central figure in our secondary in terms of run defense, for example. He covers tight ends in passing circumstances, so certainly we have some adapting to do in terms of how we divide the labor up this week.”
Continuing: “But that’s always the case when you lose someone, particularly someone significant. It’s not a one-person job. It’s a multiple-person job. That’s the spirit in which we’re planning. There will be several people given an opportunity to meet the demands of what he does for us.”
Thornhill has appeared in all 7 of the Steelers’ games this season, but he’s only been credited with 1 start. That could change following the injury to Elliott.
Steelers Rule Out Several Players for Week 9 vs. Colts
The Steelers are down another safety in Week 9, as the team ruled out veteran Jabrill Peppers (quadriceps) on October 31, per team reporter Teresa Varley.
Wide receiver Scotty Miller (finger) will also miss this contest, along with Elliott and Peppers, and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. was ruled out as he works his way back from a “hamstring/knee” injury.
According to Varley and the Steelers, four players are officially questionable for Week 9, too. Those players are quarterback Will Howard (right hand), starting safety Chuck Clark (illness), linebacker Malik Harrison (knee), and linebacker Cole Holcomb (illness).
Clark will be a key name to watch, considering the aforementioned absences at safety. Without him, it might be Thornhill and a newcomer leading the snap count at the position.
NFL Brings Down Hammer on DK Metcalf for Actions vs. Packers
The Green Bay Packers walloped the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of a national audience on last weekend’s edition of “Sunday Night Football,” and the fallout in the Steel City continues.
Several days after the Packers handed Pittsburgh its second consecutive loss, the NFL issued a punishment for Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf in connection with his on-field actions against Packers linebacker Quay Walker during the fourth quarter of that game.
The league’s Office of Gameday Accountability levied a fine of $12,172 against Metcalf for unnecessary roughness against Walker. The NFL described Metcalf’s offenses under the category of “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing.” Officials penalized Pittsburgh 15 yards during the game for Metcalf’s actions.
Quay Walker Showed Personal Growth During Altercation With DK Metcalf
Walker, who has a problematic history of his own concerning on-field misbehavior, showed tremendous restraint during the interaction in question. He spoke about it via “The Speakeasy” podcast following the contest last Sunday night.
“DK grabbed my face mask. I wanted to retaliate,” Walker said. “I was just like, ‘I can’t do that no more.’ I matured a whole lot.”
The entire night was tense, with several scrums and resulting penalties, as the Packers put together one of the best halves of football over quarters three and four that any team has mustered this entire season.
Quarterback Jordan Love finished the night with 360 yards passing and three TDs. His former teammate and mentor Aaron Rodgers put up a stat line of 219 passing yards and two touchdowns for Pittsburgh.
Green Bay went on to win the contest by a score of 35-25, moving to a record of 5-1-1 on the season, which affords the Packers the best winning percentage (.786) in the NFC through Week 8. They host the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field on Sunday before a “Monday Night Football” showcase at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10, which could have significant implications for the No. 1 seed in the conference come playoff time.
Packers Actively Hunting Cornerback Upgrade Ahead of Trade Deadline
The Packers have three days remaining before the trade deadline to make any additions to the roster, after which a relatively bare free-agent cupboard becomes the last transactional avenue available until the new league year begins in 2026.
While the defense has been incredibly impressive — save for an inexplicable performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, in which it surrendered 40 points in an overtime tie, and a couple of other blips across the seven games played to this point — the Packers are looking for at least one upgrade in the secondary.
Heavy’s Sean Deveney published a piece on the team’s interest in a cornerback ahead of the deadline, citing Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
“Citing two ‘high-ranking scouts,’ Dougherty said that the Packers have been making calls on defensive backs, which should probably not come as a surprise because the one they picked up in free agency this offseason — Nate Hobbs — has not worked out particularly well,” Deveney wrote Saturday. “He could still work his way back into the lineup, but the Packers appeared to pull the plug on Hobbs in Week 8, as he played only four snaps.”
Dougherty added in his report that Cam Taylor-Britt of the Cincinnati Bengals is a possible target in Green Bay.
