Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Strong safety Kyle Dugger could return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup in Week 15 for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Monday Night Football home game against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday.
Dugger unexpectedly missed the team’s Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens with a hand injury. He had finished the Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills without incident, but did not practice on Thursday or Friday last week before skipping the trip to Baltimore.
Without Dugger in the lineup, the Steelers used a combination of Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers to fill in at the strong safety spot against the Ravens. Clark played 57% of the team’s defensive snaps and had two tackles. Peppers played 42% of the time and finished with three stops.
Tomlin said that Dugger “has a chance to come back this week” and is expected to suit up when the Steelers start practice on Thursday.
Since coming over in a pre-deadline trade with the New England Patriots, Dugger has stabilized the strong safety position for the Steelers after the team lost starter DeShon Elliott to a long-term injury.
Dugger has started five games and made 23 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass defenses and an interception.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mike Tomlin Offers Hope for Injured Steelers Starter to Return vs. Dolphins
