The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dealing with issues in their secondary all season long, and things got worse when DeShon Elliott suffered another knee injury in Week 8. Even though Head Coach Mike Tomlin said that the idea of putting him on Injured Reserve (IR) had not been discussed yet, Pittsburgh still executed a trade to bring in Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots. At very least, he could be quality depth once Elliott does return. Those two could make a good tandem down the road.
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Kyle Dugger making a play for the New England Patriots.
However, it seems like the Steelers quickly discussed Elliott and came to a conclusion: his hyperextended knee is pretty bad. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport announced that the veteran safety will be placed on IR and miss at least the next four weeks.
The #Steelers are placing S DeShon Elliott (knee) on Injured Reserve to make room for Dugger, source said. https://t.co/EUiR9LEwDq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 28, 2025
That explains why the Steelers were quick to get a trade done with the Patriots on Tuesday. Dugger will likely step right into Elliott's role for the foreseeable future. Instead of being a possible two- or three-week issue, it is now obviously a long-term problem. Having Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark back there every play would not have been a recipe for success.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Juan Thornhill (22) breaks up a pass during a win over the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 season.
Elliott will surely be missed for his communication ability, hard-nosed tackling, and pure energy at all times. It will be hard to replicate the non-statistical impact that he has, and Dugger will have to figure that out quickly, as he will be thrust into a major spot immediately. Maybe he won't start in Week 9, but he easily could in Week 10.
Steelers Are Looking For Similar On-Field Performance From Dugger
Dugger has played 44% of the snaps on both defense and special teams so far. Like Elliott, the former Patriot is not exactly known for splash plays. He is more of a sound tackler, especially when closer to the box. He has 17 total tackles in seven games, and no other stats to speak of. It's safe to say he won't be a blitzer in this defense.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Luckily, Dugger has another ex-Patriot in Jabrill Peppers that can help him adjust from the New England system to the Pittsburgh system. It's always hard to get on a moving train, but that is exactly what is expected of him. If it works, he could start with Elliott for the last month or so of the season. If not, he may be a cap casualty.
What do you think about Elliott going on IR? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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