The Pittsburgh Steelers are leaning on Rayshawn Jenkins with DeShon Elliott on injured reserve, and Jenkins’ rough first two games make the Cleveland Browns’ limited use of him last season look pretty sensible. Cleveland gave him just three starts in 2025. Pittsburgh’s thin safety room has left him with a bigger job, and Elliott isn’t eligible to return until the Indianapolis Colts visit on October 11.
Elliott got some preseason work against the Jets, then the Steelers hit pause. His knee and hamstring took a beating last fall, and the secondary needs him healthy for the long haul.
Jenkins hasn’t made the wait easy. PFF grades his first two games at 42.3 overall and 44.4 in coverage across 65 defensive snaps. The perfect 158.3 passer rating allowed by Falcons’ Cooper Rush needs context: his lone target in coverage was a 23-yard touchdown—which can tilt things.
At 32, Jenkins still has some use close to the line of scrimmage. His 61.2 run-defense grade is better than his coverage mark, and the Steelers saw something in him enough to give him a roster spot. But getting beaten for a touchdown in Week 1 is exactly the kind of mistake a backup can’t keep making when he’s asked to play more. Graham should be looking for ways to lighten his load until Elliott returns.
DeShon Elliott’s absence shows what Rayshawn Jenkins cannot replace in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary
Jenkins has done too much in this league to pretend he was always a bad player. Before arriving in Pittsburgh, he had 562 tackles, 34 passes defended, and 11 interceptions in 139 regular-season games. His 2019–20 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers added up to 138 tackles, eight passes defended, and five picks. With the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022–23, he put up 217 tackles, 21 passes defended, and five picks.
Elliott’s recent Steelers production reflects what this defense is missing. In 2024, he made 108 tackles, defended six passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered three. Even with injuries limiting him to five games last season, he had 38 tackles, a sack, and an interception. He gets downhill in a hurry, helps against the run, and brings a voice the secondary knows. Jenkins’ old Jaguars numbers don’t give Pittsburgh that player today.
Elliott and Jaquan Brisker were supposed to start at safety while Jalen Ramsey worked at nickel. Graham could move Ramsey back to safety, but then somebody else has to take the slot. He could try seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings, but that’s a big ask this early for a guy who nearly went undrafted. Keeping Jenkins closer to the formation on selected downs is probably the least disruptive fix for now.
The Cincinnati Bengals come to Pittsburgh on Sunday, followed by a Thursday trip to the Cleveland Browns. Jenkins’ work in those two division games will give the Steelers a better read on what they can ask of him. They’ll also need to see Elliott back at practice before firming up his return date. If Jenkins struggles even after Graham narrows his role, I think he should consider hanging it up.
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