The Steelers made a defensive move ahead of their Week 7 trip to Paris, cutting veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins and opening a roster spot with a few different paths for what comes next.
Jenkins, 32, was in his first season in Pittsburgh and played in the team’s first six games before getting released. The former Los Angeles Chargers draft pick will not travel with the team for its international matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
That vacancy has immediately pointed attention toward DeShon Elliott, who remains the best-case answer for Pittsburgh’s secondary. Elliott has not played in a regular-season game in nearly a year after suffering a lower-body injury against the Green Bay Packers last season. His outlook entered the year on an encouraging note, but after appearing in one preseason game, he was placed on IR to open the regular season.
The updates since then have been limited, though head coach Mike McCarthy offered a glimpse of optimism before Week 6.
Getting better," he stated. "I know he’s on a plan to do more and more each day, but he’s getting close."
If Elliott is ready, the Steelers would be getting a proven starter back at the right time. In five 2025 games before the injury, he put up 38 total tackles, forced a fumble, grabbed an interception and added a sack. He was around the ball constantly and gave the defense the kind of impact plays that can change a game in a hurry.
Pittsburgh has already gotten solid work from Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr. and Daylen Everette, and veteran Jalen Ramsey has been on another level as the season moves toward the midpoint. Elliott’s return would give that group a major boost.
If he isn’t activated, the Steelers will have to lean more heavily on their current safety group. Jaquan Brisker has seen a heavy snap load with mixed results, while rookie Robert Spears-Jennings has made a strong early impression, even if the team’s trust in the seventh-round pick is still unclear.
The practice squad also offers a few options if the Steelers decide to fill the open spot that way. Sebastian Castro has already spent time with both Pittsburgh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and brings special teams value after going undrafted out of Iowa.
Darius Rush, 26, has six games of NFL experience and could have the best path to being ready for Sunday. Car'Lin Vigers is another name in the mix, an undrafted defensive back from Louisiana-Monroe with the athletic traits and size teams look for, though he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game.
In Other News...
Steelers Secondary Is Making The Joey Porter Trade Harder To Judge
The Steelers decision to move Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas on Oct. 1 already looked like the kind of deal that would take time to sort out, and the early returns have only made the picture murkier. In the three games since, Pittsburghs cornerback group has held up well on paper, with Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr. and rookie Daylen Everette stepping into bigger roles and keeping the secondary afloat in a way that makes the trade look less painful for now.
Still, the real test is probably still ahead. Pittsburghs recent stretch has come against quarterbacks who did not exactly force the issue every week, and the schedule is about to give a much clearer read on whether the Steelers can live without Porters presence when the matchups get sharper later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face One Risky WR Decision As Trade Deadline Nears
The Steelers have already begun shoring up their wide receiver depth by adding Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad, with an expected move up to the active roster not far behind. It is a sensible, low-risk step for a team still sorting out its passing-game options, especially with the trade deadline creeping closer and outside chatter always ready to connect Pittsburgh to bigger names at the position.
Chris Godwin has inevitably surfaced in that conversation, but the fit is hard to justify for a Steelers team trying to stay disciplined with resources. His contract would be a major commitment, and the injury concerns only add another layer of uncertainty for a club that cannot afford to make a splashy move without a clear path to getting consistent availability in return. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Bigger Test Than The Week 7 Stage
The Steelers Week 7 trip already feels like more than a normal road game, with New Orleans waiting in a setting that adds a new layer to an otherwise familiar AFC-NFC matchup. Both teams have injury reports to monitor, the forecast could affect the feel of the game, and Pittsburghs recent passing-game approach gives the meeting a different edge than a typical early-season contest.
But the bigger backdrop is the international stage itself, with the league continuing to push its International Series into new territory and both clubs adjusting their week around the travel and preparation demands that come with it. For Pittsburgh, the challenge is not just executing against the Saints, but doing it while keeping its defensive standard intact and managing the disruption that comes with a transatlantic routine. [Read more 🡒]