Pittsburgh’s secondary may finally be getting a needed boost, and it comes at a time when the unit can use every bit of help it can find.
Ahead of the Steelers’ Week 5 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Mike McCarthy said DeShon Elliott is trending in the right direction now that he is officially eligible to come off the reserve/injured list. McCarthy stopped short of putting a date on Elliott’s return, but the message was clearly encouraging.
“DeShon’s making progress," McCarthy said. "I had a chance to watch him work last week, so he’s definitely getting close.
He’s chomping at the bit and he’s definitely making progress. I don’t have a timeline for you, but I thought he had a really good workout last Wednesday.”
That kind of update matters because Pittsburgh’s defensive backfield has been stretched thin all season. Joey Porter Jr. didn’t play in the Steelers’ first three games because of his contract dispute before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys last week.
Jamel Dean is now expected to miss time after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Jalen Ramsey is playing through a broken wrist he picked up in the Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, though he has not missed any action because of it.
At safety, the picture has been uneven as well. Jaquan Brisker and Rayshawn Jenkins have both had their share of struggles, and Pittsburgh has been careful not to overload rookie Robert Spears-Jennings, who has played just 38 defensive snaps so far.
Even with all that turnover and inconsistency, the Steelers have managed to hold up reasonably well against the pass. They are allowing 209.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 12th-lowest in the NFL, and their EPA per pass sits at -0.07, 11th-lowest in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.
Elliott’s own track record in Pittsburgh gives the team reason to be optimistic. Across 20 games in black and gold, he has shown he can make plays on the back end, picking off two passes and forcing and recovering three fumbles. He does have some coverage limitations, but he has been more than serviceable there, and his value goes beyond the ball skills.
He also brings reliable tackling and a physical edge against the run, something Pittsburgh could use after its poor outing against Cleveland.
For a secondary that needs reinforcements in the worst way, Elliott’s return would arrive at just the right time.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]