Mike McCarthy Gets Honest About Steelers' Injury Struggles: "We Need Everybody"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are well into training camp and attrition is starting to set in a little bit. Some guys are getting banged up, while others have been dealing with injuries from before training camp even began. This is not unique to Pittsburgh as the 31 other teams around the NFL are also dealing with injury problems, and in comparison to teams like the San Francisco 49ers or the Detroit Lions, the Steelers are rather healthy. No serious injuries have been reported yet, and it seems like a lot of the players for the Steelers that have missed some practice time have done so for precautionary reasons.

The defense in particular has been dealing with some more injuries, and the secondary is the group that has struggled the most at staying healthy. Jalen Ramsey apparently suffered an injury near the end of the spring and the offseason program, and that led to him being placed on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list before training camp even got underway. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is another player who has been banged up as he apparently aggravated his back before the first training camp practice, but that injury is a little more fishy as the star defender is looking for a new contract extension. 

Head Coach Mike McCarthy spoke with the media on Monday, and he was asked about the injuries plaguing the defensive side of the ball.

"Man, I wouldn't say it's a setback because those guys are still in the room, they're still a part of the communication," McCarthy said. "I think just like with everything, we need everybody. This is actually a very healthy and normal exercise as we can get our younger players some more opportunities. We have veterans that are going through injuries, it's important to get them back."

McCarthy isn't just referring to Ramsey and Porter. DeShon Elliott has been limited as he works his way back into the mix after suffering a serious knee/hamstring injury in 2025. Brandin Echols went down with an injury as well and is expected to miss some time, and Jaquan Brisker got banged up as well. Those are all guys in the secondary alone, as defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day has also missed a few practices.

An entire secondary getting plenty of reps together throughout training camp is actually very important from a communication standpoint. The injured guys are still in the meeting rooms and whatnot and know how to communicate, but the coaching staff certainly wants those guys to get on the field so they can get some live experience in that regard before training camp ends. Communication is one of the most important components of a secondary, and of a defense as a whole.

Steelers Do See A Silver Lining With Injury-Riddled Secondary

One point McCarthy made was that the veterans on the defense being banged up actually presents a ton of opportunity for the younger guys on the roster. They get to be a part of more reps against better competition, which could help some guys make the team and carve out a role for themselves. One example of this is cornerback Daylen Everette. He was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh, and he was always going to make the team as he was a Day 2 pick. However, he might have just been forced to play special teams. He has gotten a ton of defensive reps in camp, and he has impressed. This could lead to him being a bigger part of the defense than initially thought.

The Steelers want their experienced players on the field as much as possible, but finding a diamond in the rough could make the injuries hurt a little less.

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