The Steelers opted not to re-sign S Kyle Dugger, by all appearances, but he is happy to land on his feet in the division with the Bengals. Following a tumultuous period of his career, he is looking forward to finding stability in Cincinnati. Now on his third team since the start of last season, he’s looking ahead, not backward.
Speaking to the Bengals’ website, Dugger called signing with Cincinnati a “Fresh start and a new opportunity”. That was something that could have never come easy with the Steelers, as they only acquired him mid-season. “It’s been a rough two years. I’m thankful where I am”, he admitted.
Kyle Dugger began losing playing time while in his final full season with the Patriots in 2024. He played even less—significantly less—to start last season, and eventually the Steelers acquired him. There, he played the final nine games. Even with the Steelers, however, they curbed Dugger’s playing time by the end.
In the final game of the regular season, Dugger only played 29 of the Steelers’ defensive snaps. He only played 32 in the Wild Card Round loss, but that represented an even lower percentage of the total. His workload dropped below the 50-percent mark in what proved to be his final game with the Steelers.
While in Pittsburgh, he did intercept two passes. Dugger scored on a pick-six against the Bengals, in fact, giving the Steelers a much-needed win. That was with Joe Flacco playing quarterback, though, and he’s very excited about the Joe Burrow offense.
“Joe Burrow and I were in the same draft class and I’ve seen the things he’s done”, Dugger said, noting the offense is the first thing he thinks about regarding the Bengals—which is probably the case for anybody who has to think about the Bengals at any point.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve played against and their offense is one of the, if not, the most talented in the league”, Dugger added. “Just the potential to win a lot games and play at a high level as a team. That’s what I know”.
The Steelers went 5-4 in the regular season during Kyle Dugger’s time there, but he’s going to a Bengals team that finished the season 6-11. Of course, they didn’t have Burrow for most of the year. But they did have Burrow the previous season and still missed the playoffs that year.
Dugger had nothing negative—or positive—to say about his time with the Steelers. He did have positive things to say during the year, though. It just happens to have been a part of the rough two years he referenced, as a mid-season trade probably tends to be. It’s hard to jump on a moving train, let alone to feel like you fit in on the fly. He also spent last offseason rehabbing, so he is grateful to go into this offseason fully healthy.
In nine games, Dugger recorded 42 tackles, 2 for loss, with 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, and 1 touchdown with the Steelers. On paper, those are pretty solid numbers, but Pittsburgh felt it could do better. Thus far, the team has signed Jaquan Brisker, and is also getting DeShon Elliott back. Elliott’s injury last season is what prompted the Steelers to trade for Dugger in the first place. And now they’ll face him twice a year.
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