The Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary took another hit on Sunday, as cornerback Brandin Echols was ruled out for the remainder of the game after suffering a groin injury in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions.
The injury occurred on a mesh concept where Lions receiver Jameson Williams was working across the field to pick up a first down. Echols made a diving attempt to stop him short, but stayed down after the play.
Trainers attended to him on the field before he made his way to the blue medical tent. Not long after, he was escorted to the locker room and officially ruled out.
That’s a tough blow for a Steelers defense that came into the game already thin at corner. James Pierre, who’s quietly put together a breakout season as a reliable starter, missed his second straight game with a lingering calf issue. With Echols now sidelined, Pittsburgh is down to just three healthy cornerbacks on the active roster.
To help patch the depth chart, the Steelers elevated Daryl Porter Jr. from the practice squad ahead of the game. Now, with Echols out, Porter’s role could expand quickly - a big ask for a player still adjusting to NFL speed.
The ripple effect of Echols’ injury stretched across the secondary. Jalen Ramsey, who began the season as the team’s slot corner before shifting to free safety, slid back down into the nickel role.
That move pushed Chuck Clark into the starting free safety spot, while Kyle Dugger continues to hold things down at strong safety. It’s a reshuffling that speaks to the Steelers’ flexibility on the back end, but also the strain injuries are putting on their defensive depth.
As for Echols, the severity of the groin injury remains unclear. Whether he’ll be available for next week’s divisional clash against the Cleveland Browns is still up in the air - and given how much the Steelers rely on his physicality and coverage skills, his status will be one to watch closely throughout the week.
For now, Pittsburgh’s defense will need to lean on its remaining healthy bodies and hope the patchwork secondary can hold up against one of the league’s more explosive offenses in Detroit.