The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale and safety DeShon Elliott on injured reserve, the team announced, clearing two roster spots.
Ekuale suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. With him down for the rest of the season, it will thrust Esezi Otomewo and Logan Lee into bigger roles.
After being examined by trainers, he limped off the field and went into the blue medical tent. Ekuale came out of the tent without his helmet and immediately walked down into the locker room, signaling the injury prognosis was not a good one.
Ekuale has played in all seven games for the Steelers so far as their reserve nose tackle.
Ekuale came from the New England Patriots and signed a one-year deal with the Steelers this offseason to become a key part of their defensive line rotation. Ekuale, 31, had 52 tackles and just one sack. He had 16 pressures while adding 26 run stops.
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.
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.
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