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
GettyPittsburgh Steelers safety Juan Thornhill will likely see an increased role after the DeShon Elliott injury.
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.
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Issues Blunt Words to T.J. Hockenson
From a receiving standpoint, it’s been a disappointing 2025 NFL season for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Additionally, the veteran pass catcher has yet to have a game in which he records over 50 receiving yards, and he has only one touchdown.
Hockenson’s best game of the season came in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he recorded 49 receiving yards and one touchdown. Nonetheless, he has yet to have a better performance than that contest early in the campaign.
“There are defensive players on every defense we play and have played this season that can be schematical problems because there’s very little scheme to limit their impact on the game,” O’Connell told reporters on October 31. “Sometimes it requires the tight ends to be selfless. T.J.’s made some big-time plays for us in moments this year, even off of helping on the edge a little bit, which is a pretty unique trait to him.
“Clearly, between T.J. and our receiving core, being some of the most impactful players on our whole team, we want to get those guys involved in the game, get them doing the things that they do well. For T.J., I would put a lot of things he does well ahead of helping on the edges. It’s kind of a necessary thing when certain games and situations happen, but there’s no question we want him to be heavily involved in the game.”
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Gets Vote of Confidence
Furthermore, the Vikings are expected to have J.J. McCarthy under center for the Week 9 game against the Lions. As a result, the second-year quarterback must take charge and have Hockenson be one of the focal points of the team’s offense.
“Looks good,“ Jefferson told reporters. “Just going through the plays, going through the motions, dialing up the connection, and, of course, expanding the relationship that we have out there on the field. So it’s been great. I feel like he has the confidence to go out there and do what we expect him to do.
“It’s just all about having that energy and thinking about one play at a time—not thinking about the big play, making the best play of the game, or being perfect throughout the game. It’s just all about taking one play at a time, leaning on everybody in the offense to go to work, and just lead us. And that’s pretty much the main message to him.”
Is J.J. McCarthy Ready to Run With Vikings’ QB Job?
Along with Jefferson’s remarks about the Michigan product’s return, O’Connell also offered his perspective on McCarthy’s current mindset.
“J.J. is in a good spot,” O’Connell told KFAN’s Paul Allen. “He had some really good work [on October 27] and should get a full week of preparation. He finally feels truly ready to go be himself—not just in his ability to function at the position, but also in the things J.J.
“McCarthy can bring to our offense: his mobility and his ability to protect himself, which comes from playing with great timing and rhythm from the pocket. He also has the ability to create and do some things off the schedule of the play.”
