Steelers Now
DeShon Elliott had one interception against the Minnesota Vikings. The Pittsburgh Steelers safety would’ve liked two, but he was simply happy to be out there during his team’s 24-21 win in Dublin.
Elliott had missed the Steelers’ past two games after spraining his MCL during their Week 1 win over the New York Jets. He finished Sunday with six combined tackles, a sack, two passes defended and two quarterback hits.
“I’m a ball player, man,” Elliott said afterward. “It don’t matter. Honestly, I’m just blessed to be able to keep playing ball. After the injury, I didn’t know how bad it was going to be. I’m extremely blessed and happy I was able to be out there today. I gave my all, like I always do, and I was rewarded with some plays.”
During the second quarter, Elliott leaped in front of a Carson Wentz pass meant for Jordan Addison. He celebrated with a jig in the end zone. On the fourth-and-17 stop with 14 seconds to go, Elliott almost had another pick. Still, the ball dropped incomplete, sealing the Steelers’ win.
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen recorded 11 tackles and a sack. He felt that Elliott’s return helped the defense.
“That’s my guy right there,” Queen said. “You knew that already. I definitely love playing with DeShon. He just brings a different mode of a lot of communication, a lot of hard-nosed football, a lot of anger. The dude is pissing me off before the game, trying to get my hyped and stuff. Definitely love him, definitely missed him and glad he’s back.”
Fellow veteran defensive back Darius Slay echoed the increase in communication.
“Building every day, man,” Slay said. “With ugly coming back — 25, we call him ugly — it just helped communicate. He’s very vocal.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers’ DeShon Elliott Grateful to Re-Join Opportunistic Defense
