In Kyle Dugger, the Steelers are grateful they found a safety who could hit the ground running. Turns out, it’s just what they needed. So says Joey Porter Jr., the longest-tenured member of the Steelers’ secondary, now in his third season. Dugger is going into just his third game with the Steelers, but they see the effect he has had.
“He’s just been really a piece to the puzzle, just the glue”, Porter said of Dugger this past week, via the Steelers’ website. “He’s been keeping it all together, he’s been making his tackles and making his plays, communicating a lot”.
Porter described Dugger as “that piece that we needed”, noting his ability to step right in with the Steelers’ defense. “He came in on the moving train and was communicating right off the rip. And that’s what you want and need in a guy”.
A 2020 second-round pick, Kyle Dugger spent five-plus seasons with the Patriots before they traded him to the Steelers weeks ago. Having previously signed a long-term contract, he adjusted his deal to make the trade happen. Pittsburgh isn’t paying much for him, and they didn’t give up much to New England.
However, both sides recognize that this could potentially be a long-term arrangement if things unfold well. Kyle Dugger will have the opportunity to hit free agency in March, and the Steelers will have the chance to re-sign him. Given the juggling they’ve had to do at safety and the secondary in general, that might be a good idea.
The Steelers like DeShon Elliott at one safety spot, but he is also currently down with an injury. Dugger’s long-term prospects, though, are complicated by Jalen Ramsey and where he will play. Of course, we don’t know if Ramsey will even be here next year, and under what conditions.
If it’s Elliott and Ramsey at safety, then obviously Dugger will want to explore other opportunities. But Elliot has a lengthy injury history that might force the Steelers to make a difficult decision. They love him, and he loves being here, but how many games can they get out of him?
Of course, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves here. Kyle Dugger has been in a Steelers uniform for two games, and frankly, opposing teams are still figuring out what that means. And there are plenty of challenging games ahead, which could change the narrative very quickly.
For what we have seen thus far, however, he has helped to settle down the Steelers’ back end. And he did so at a critical moment, Dugger coming in right after Elliott’s injury. The fact that Ramsey is starting and not one of the three former starters they already had on the roster tells you everything you need to know about what Pittsburgh thought of its alternatives. In that sense, it’s easy to see why Porter, and surely others, see him as a key missing piece.
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