PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have not yet officially ruled out strong safety DeShon Elliott for this Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it sure sounds like the veteran tackling machine isn’t going to be able to suit up this week.
After missing the Wednesday and Thursday sessions, Elliott was only able to run early in practice on Friday while other players were taking part in individual drills.
Fellow safety Damontae Kazee said he expects himself and cornerback Cam Sutton, who has played safety off and on in his time with the team, to fill in for Elliott.
“Right now, me and Cam are going to be filling in for his role, and also playing our role,” Kazee said.
Kazee said the Steelers have some packages where he already plays that will be unchanged, and others when Sutton is already in the game, so it will just be a matter of dividing the other reps up.
Elliott has 96 tackles, second on the team to only Patrick Queen. He’s sixth among defenders with 698 snaps this season. Kazee has played 158 and Sutton has played just 102, split between cornerback and safety, since returning from his eight-week NFL suspension.
Elliott suffered a hamstring injury at some point during the Steelers’ 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He was able to finish the game, but head coach Mike Tomlin said he was expected to be limited this week.
Beyond Kazee and Sutton, the Steelers have special teams captain Miles Killebrew and practice squad vet Eric Rowe as potential depth options at safety this Sunday.
“It’s next man up,” starting free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “I think we predicate ourselves as a defense that prides itself on smashing the run. Whether our top run defender is out or not, we’ve still got to do it.”
Elliott has been a sensational free agent acquisition. Since coming over from the Miami Dolphins on a two-year deal, Elliott has shown impressive physicality and a knack for big plays that has fit right into to a turnover-hungry Steelers defense.
“He’s been huge,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “Very physical. Just a guy that’s been able to come down into the box, be willing to hit, be wiling to blitz. I don’t know if I expected this degree when he came in, but I’m more than happy to see how physical he is and how much he likes the physicality.”
The Steelers will have to find a way to replace that physicality while playing one of the most physical offenses in the NFL, with the Philadelphia Eagles boasting one of the best offensive lines in the league and featuring a heavy dose of star running back Saquon Barkley.
