It didn't look great when Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliot left Sunday's Week 1 matchup with an apparent knee injury. He did not return to the contest, and many worried that he could have a potentially serious problem that could affect his long-term availability. Despite the team getting the win, it was a little unsettling when the starting safety had to exit after a scary twist-up of his knee.
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Steelers safety Deshon Elliott prepares to walk off the field as Pittsburgh played a professional football game on the road.
The Steelers are reported to have been in agreement with veteran safety Jabrill Peppers on a contract, so it could have been looked at as a troubling sign as to what update was to come regarding Elliott. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Elliott escaped a serious injury and could be back in the fold for the defense by the fourth week of the season.
Sources: #Steelers S DeShon Elliott is expected to miss a couple of weeks with an MCL sprain. All things considered, it’s not viewed as a serious injury.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 9, 2025
The goal is to be back for Week 4 vs the Vikings in Ireland. In the meantime, Pittsburgh has signed Jabrill Peppers. pic.twitter.com/ctPS7efV5F
All things considered, this is a very good update that should make Steelers very happy internally. Elliott is a crucial piece to the defense, and as long as his recovery process goes well, he will be back in the defensive huddle in no time.
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Steelers safety DeShon Elliott looks towards the crowd as Pittsburgh faces off against an opponent on the road during the 2024 NFL regular season.
While Peppers gets up to speed, it's very helpful to have a shifty veteran like Jalen Ramsey in the fold. The hybrid defender can pretty much do it all, and the defense will be relying on him to step up in Week 2 if Peppers isn't quite ready to suit up for the game. Time will tell who ends up having what role on defense when all are healthy and ready to go, but Peppers will serve as a nice addition while Elliott gets healthy.
JALEN RAMSEY CALLED GAME. WHAT A HIT.@steelers win an absolute THRILLER vs the Jets 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JHbzeOCc4U
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025
Ramsey displayed his immediate value to the Steelers on the crushing game-winning hit that he had against New York Jets wideout Garrett Wilson. Fans will expect more of that moving forward, and once Elliott returns to full health, the secondary could turn into the league's best if Peppers shows that he can contribute at a consistent level.
Peppers has started 85 games throughout his eight-year career and was surprisingly released by the New England Patriots prior to the 2025 season beginning. He has now found a new home and will have the chance to make his mark almost immediately because of Elliott's short absence. All in all, things really worked out for the Steelers.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey runs on the field as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Now Will Have A Ton Of Elite Versatility On Defense
Assuming Elliott returns by Week 4 and Peppers impresses, Pittsburgh will have a new-look secondary that could cause problems for opposing offenses. The unit is extremely hard-hitting, and has a ton of Steelers type of players on the backend. Not only did fans get a great update on the health of Elliott, but Peppers' incoming arrival is just as exciting.
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