The Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary has struggled to live up to expectations all season, and a big reason is the constant injuries the unit faces week after week. Unfortunately, another injury will impact the starting lineup.
Starting strong safety DeShon Elliott suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury while attempting to tackle tight end Tucker Kraft on a deep shot passing play. Kraft was able to haul in the pass in Elliott’s coverage before breaking free for extra yards after the catch. As Juan Thornhill came in for the assist on the tackle, Kraft landed on Elliott’s leg as he was coming down.
Elliott was helped to the sideline, where he avoided putting any pressure on his leg. Officially, Elliott has been ruled out after a cart carried him back to the locker room.
Pittsburgh Steelers defense loses DeShon Elliott to nasty leg injury
Without Elliott, the defense will have to turn to some combination of Jabrill Peppers and Chuck Clark, both of whom stepped in for Elliott earlier this season when he dealt with a separate knee issue. Elliott missed two games with that injury.
For what it’s worth, Elliot injured his right leg in the tackle attempt on Kraft. He injured his left knee earlier this season.
Elliott has earned a reputation as a hard-hitting safety, but he’s also been valuable in coverage. Coming into Sunday Night’s game, Elliott had only allowed completions on 40% of passes in his coverage area.
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In a tight game, losing Elliott will prove pivotal for the Steelers' defense, which allowed the first touchdown of the night five plays after his injury. The Steelers can’t afford to allow Elliott’s absence to be the catalyst for a Packers comeback.
Of course, going forward, the Steelers will have to get the most out of the duo of Peppers and Clark. For a defense that has failed to live up to expectations for much of the season, a new weak link for an extended period of time is the last thing the Steelers need.
We’ll continue to monitor Elliott’s status as more information becomes available.