Steelers Veteran Earns Praise From Mike Tomlin for ‘Doing the Dirty Work’ and Leading by Example
In a locker room built on toughness, accountability, and quiet professionalism, the Pittsburgh Steelers have found the perfect embodiment of all three in a veteran who doesn’t seek headlines — but earns respect every time he steps on the field.
He’s not the loudest player, nor the flashiest. But when injuries hit, or when the team needs a stabilizing presence, his number gets called — and the job gets done.
That player is Chuck Clark, the former Baltimore Ravens safety who signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Steelers in March 2025. After seven seasons of experience and leadership in Baltimore, Clark brought his intelligence and consistency to a defense already stacked with stars, quietly carving out his place in the Black and Gold.
Through seven weeks, Clark has appeared in five games (two starts), recording 28 tackles (21 solo, 7 assists) and one forced fumble. He’s served primarily as a
rotational safety and special teams contributor, backing up DeShon Elliott and Jabrill Peppers.
In Week 7 against the Bengals, with Elliott sidelined, Clark’s role expanded — and he delivered. Playing
46 defensive snaps, his PFF grade of 73.6 reflected what the tape has always shown: dependable tackling, sharp positioning, and an instinctive feel for run support.
Head coach Mike Tomlin
praised the veteran’s impact both on and off the field, saying: “He’s the kind of veteran every locker room needs — steady, smart, and unselfish. Doesn’t complain about snaps, just prepares like a pro and delivers when his number’s called. You can trust him to do the dirty work, and that’s what makes him valuable in Pittsburgh.”
Clark’s journey has never been about flash — it’s about foundation. A reliable presence in a deep secondary, he’s become a player teammates lean on for guidance and consistency. His ability to communicate pre-snap adjustments and mentor younger defenders has made him one of the quiet leaders of the Steelers’ defense.
Fans have taken notice too. On X, @SteelersDepot summed it up simply: “Reliable depth. Every team needs a Chuck Clark.”
With DeShon Elliott’s health still uncertain, Clark’s snap count could continue to climb in the coming weeks. But whether starting or backing up, his mentality never changes — prepare like a starter, play for the team, and do the work that often goes unnoticed.
And in a city like Pittsburgh, that kind of mindset is exactly what turns veterans into fan favorites.
Kyle Dugger Absence vs. Browns Strains Patriots Secondary
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With their Week 8 matchup against the Cleveland Browns set to kick off at
The Patriots (5-2) enter this matchup on the heels of a dominant 31-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Cleveland (1-5) also won its Week 7 contest against the Miami Dolphins by a score of 31-6 at Huntington Bank Field.
With just over an hour until the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, the Patriots and Browns have released their lists of inactives:
PATRIOTS INACTIVES:
S Kyle Dugger
LB Caleb Murphy
WR Efton Chism, III
DE Eric Gregory
DE Keion White
G Caedan Wallace
QB Tommy DeVito (3rd QB)
What it Means for the Patriots:
Dugger entered the weekend as questionable for Week 8 with a knee injury. The Lenoir-Rhyne product did not participate the the Pats final practice of the week and was the lone Patriot to be listed on their ultimate injury and practice participation report.
This season, Dugger has appeared in all seven games [making four starts] while compiling 17 total tackles. Due to his preseason and early-season struggles, the former Pats’ team captain has been the subject of both trade and release rumors — the former of which are expected to continue up to the NFL’s
Throughout his five-plus seasons in Foxborough, Dugger has appeared in 81 regular season games, making 69 starts. He also started his only playoff appearance in 2021. The Decatur, Georgia native has compiled 441 total tackles, nine interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while scoring three defensive touchdowns. His extensive knowledge of the Patriots playbook made him the logical choice to serve as their starter with veteran Jaylinn Hawkins being sidelined for the past two games with a hamstring injury.
Despite having just been signed by the Patriots on Oct. 15, defensive back Richie Grant’s elevation from the practice squad may indicate that he is likely to inherit some of the reps normally allotted to Dugger. The veteran safety was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason but was released prior to the start of the season. Throughout his four seasons in the NFL, the 6’0” 200-pound defensive back has played in 67 games with 33 starts and has accumulated 264 total tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, 17 passes-defensed and 11 special teams tackles.
The Patriots may also turn to second-year defensive back Dell Pettus, perhaps the more-likely choice to receive Dugger’s reps. Pettus has logged 10 total tackles, one forced fumble and one run-stuff in reserve duty this season.
BROWNS INACTIVES:
QB Shedeur Sanders
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
S Damontae Kazee
RB Raheim Sanders
G Zack Zinter
T Cornelius Lucas
DT Adin Huntington
