DeShon

Elliott

Elliott was considered week-to-week with a knee injury he suffered in Week 8 against the Packers. However, with the Steelers acquiring Kyle Dugger from the Patriots, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Elliott will be placed on injured reserve. He will miss a minimum of four games and could return later in the season.

Elliott’s knee got caught under Packers tight end Tucker Kraft while attempting a tackle in the third quarter. He remained on the field before being helped to the medical tent, eventually carted to the locker room while in visible pain. The team ruled him out for the remainder of the game and it appears as if he is headed for an extended absence.

Austin remained sidelined all week by his shoulder injury, and the Steelers do not have an adequate replacement for the speedy receiver on the roster, once again solidifying a large target share for WR DK Metcalf. Fortunately, the Steelers will have S DeShon Elliott, who missed two practices this week due to a personal issue. The Steelers (4-1) sit atop the AFC North, with the Bengals (2-4) in the No. 2 spot, now led by veteran QB Joe Flacco, who joined his new team via trade just last week.

The news comes directly from the Steelers’ senior director of communications, Burt Lauten, so we read the “expected to play” line as a formality. Elliott missed practice on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a personal issue, but he has now arrived in Cincinnati and is evidently good to go. The Steelers defense is tasked with containing the Joe Flacco-led Bengals on Thursday Night Football this evening.

Austin has not yet returned to practice after injuring his shoulder in the Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Vikings. The team had a Week 5 bye and declined to put Austin on short-term injured reserve, which would have required him to sit out until Week 10. The Steelers face the Bengals on Thursday Night Football this week. The short week undoubtedly hurt Austin’s chances of returning in time. The Steelers also ruled out S Miles Killebrew (knee) and listed S DeShon Elliott (personal) and LB Malik Harrison (knee) as questionable. Elliott missed Weeks 3-4 with a knee injury.

Harmon’s return to practice could not have come at a better time. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin already said CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) is “questionable at best” to play in Week 3 against the Patriots. He was unable to practice, as was S DeShon Elliott (knee). Steelers LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) is likely due for an extended absence, though he was able to avoid being placed on injured reserve.

The team hopes to have Elliott back for their Week 4 game against the Vikings in Ireland, according to Schultz. Elliott will be replaced by some combination of Jalen Ramsey and Jabrill Peppers, who signed with the Steelers on Tuesday. The loss of Elliott is a blow for a Pittsburgh defense that allowed the fourth highest drop back success rate in Week 1.

He walked off the field on his own, though he was surrounded by trainers, and went directly to the blue medical tent. Elliott had five solo tackles before leaving. Jalen Ramsey has been playing more safety with Elliott sidelined.

The deal includes $9.21 million in guarantees. Elliott is now tied to the Steelers through the 2027 season and is coming off a career year, having amassed 108 combined tackles in his first season with the franchise in 2024. Elliott had an 83.9 PFF run defense grade, but more modest coverage numbers. He figures to be a main cog in the box for Pittsburgh again in 2025.

Elliott joined the Dolphins on a one-year contract last offseason after spending 2022 with the Lions. The veteran safety earned a PFF coverage grade of 64.1 last season while totaling 82 tackles, one interception, and six pass breakups. The Steelers released safety, Keanu Neal, with a failed physical designation earlier this offseason and will likely replace him with Elliott this season.