The Pittsburgh Steelers are placing safety DeShon Elliott on injured reserve with his hyper-extended knee injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That move will clear the space for safety Kyle Dugger.
Elliott’s ACL is intact, but there is other associated damage the Steelers are working through with Elliott that will likely keep him out for the rest of the season. The Steelers also lost defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale for the season with a torn ACL.
Elliott will miss at least four weeks, but the injury is expected to be serious enough to keep him most much of the season, if not all of the season.
The play came on a reception by Tucker Kraft where Elliott and fellow safety Juan Thornhill were trying to tackle Kraft.
However, at the end of the play, Elliott was standing and the two players rolled into his knee, causing the injury. Elliott got up and with the help of trainers, made it to the blue medical tent. He was then carted from the blue medical tent to the locker room, where he was immediately ruled out.
Elliott missed time earlier this season with an MCL sprain he suffered in Week 1 against the New York Jets, but that was to his left knee. This injury is to the opposite leg.
Without him on the field, the Steelers will turn to free safety Juan Thornhill with a group of Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers at strong safety. Jalen Ramsey, who has played both slot cornerback and outside cornerback, can play in that rotation, too. Dugger will factor into the room, and will likely serve as a potential replacement for Elliott.
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