The Pittsburgh Steelers provided many answers to lingering questions in their Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. However, what followed were struggles on a Thursday night game on the road against the Cleveland Browns. More questions remain for the team compared to answers. A lot of those questions are coming on the defensive side of the ball. Thursday saw that unit give up 27 points for the second straight time, while also allowing DeShaun Watson to throw for a season-high 268 yards. The defense has been called out and it is coming directly in the form of a free-agent signing this offseason.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field surface and looks off into the distance as the team participates in a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
General Manager Omar Khan was busy early and often working to improve the roster ahead of the 2026 season. One of the acquisitions he made was the signing of cornerback Jamel Dean, who exited the game on Thursday. It was a huge loss to an already depleted secondary in Pittsburgh.
On Friday, Steelers writer Jim Wexell was on an episode of the Steel City Insider podcast to discuss the outlook on the team moving forward. He discussed the situation with the Black and Gold cornerback, and the exit he made from the game in Cleveland. He also mentioned that he heard some alarming things about the defensive back's time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“You know Jamel Dean, limping off the field,” Wexell said. “I heard he did that in Tampa all the time. He did it in Pittsburgh the first three games probably, but limped back on. This time he did not limp back on. So is that another lame horse?”
With the trade of Joey Porter Jr. occurring, this is very concerning news for a secondary that is now very thin. Safety DeShon Elliott was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) ahead of the start of the season and immediately put the group behind the eight ball. Elliott did take to social media to offer Porter his well wishes as he starts his next chapter in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. However, for the Pittsburgh safety and his teammates, they hope to get him back very soon.
For Dean, this is concerning to hear given that he was brought in to be a staple in a secondary and really round them out at the cornerback position. The move to sign him was great at the time, but now the cornerback is giving the defense for coordinator Patrick Graham plenty to question as they move on to Week 5. Their new defensive play-caller now needs to rally their depleted group and wipe the slate clean for their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Steelers Can Negate Secondary Issues Following Dean Injury
Should Dean's injury be significant and have any long-term impact, it would certainly be another blow to the Black and Gold secondary. However, they have a great group of defenders up front, including their edge rushing trio led by TJ Watt. That is one advantage that Graham has playing in his favor and he can deploy them in blitzing scenarios more to get to the quarterback and take away the chance to expose the depleted secondary. If there is anyone that can help do that, it's Watt.
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Steelers star edge rusher TJ Watt during the 2026 home opener in Pittsburgh, PA.
His interception return for a touchdown in Week 1 proved to be a massive jolt, as they went on to win the game 20-13 against the Atlanta Falcons. He has been playing at an extremely high level this season and a lot of that is because of the unique usage of him in games.
Graham has been rotating other guys in like Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith, which has allowed Watt to be fresh in the fourth quarter and gives him the ability to be a game wrecker in high leverage situations. This news on the secondary for Graham's group is not great, but he has this advantage in front of him to try and help to negate it.
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