Mike Tomlin may have labeled DeShon Elliott as week-to-week in his Tuesday press conference, but Jeremy Fowler is sticking by his reporting that the Steelers’ starting safety may not return this season.
“The Steelers are calling safety DeShon Elliott (hyperextended knee) week-to-week, but people I’ve talked to are not optimistic that he can return this season,” Fowler wrote in his weekly buzz column on ESPN. “Beyond the knee, Elliott was being examined for potential hamstring damage, as well.”
Elliott injured his knee back in Week 1 and feared the worst. He avoided anything major there but might not be so lucky this time around. Not only did he suffer a hyperextended knee, but he may have also injured his hamstring. Multiple injuries like that to the same leg complicates the rehab and recovery process. Depending on the severity of the hamstring injury, that could end up being the bigger concern than the hyperextension.
The injury happened at the end of Tucker Kraft’s long catch and run as he rolled awkwardly into Elliott’s leg. The hamstring injury could have happened at a different time.
Pittsburgh has already placed Elliott on IR and reportedly traded with the New England Patriots for S Kyle Dugger. Elliott is guaranteed to be out for at least the next four weeks, and Fowler is hearing it will be longer than that. Could he maybe return if the Steelers go deep into the playoffs? I suppose that’s possible given the description of the injuries. But again, that depends on the severity of both the hyperextension and the potential hamstring damage.
When Elliott missed time after the Week 1 injury, Pittsburgh’s defense had issues on the back end with communication and stopping the run. Elliott was a major part of the Steelers’ communication on defense, and now they will have to work around not having him.
The Steelers already allowed over 30 points and over 400 yards in back-to-back games with Elliott. Without him, they might be in trouble. The trade deadline is just around the corner next Tuesday. If the Steelers learn more about Elliott’s injury by then, perhaps they could continue making moves in the secondary.
Recommended for you