Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott (knee) was a full participant at Friday’s practice and has no injury designation for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland.
Elliott suffered an MCL sprain in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the New York Jets. Elliott did not play in Week 2 or Week 3. He was limited at Wednesday and Thursday’s practice before being a full go at Friday’s practice.
Elliott suffered the injury when another player rolled into the side of his left leg on a Breece Hall run during the second quarter of the win. Elliott got to his feet, but threw his helmet in frustration as the Steelers’ training staff approached. He walked to the blue medical tent on the sideline on his own, but exited with a limp and no helmet.
Safety Chuck Clark started for the Steelers in place of Elliott against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. In Week 3, the Steelers used a three-man rotation at safety with Clark, Jabrill Peppers and Juan Thornhill. Clark received 56 snaps, Peppers recorded 43 and Thornhill played 29.
Peppers landed in Pittsburgh after Elliott’s injury. Peppers had a key forced fumble in the Steelers’ Week 3 win over the New England Patriots.
Playing instinctually against his former team, Peppers fended off a block and upended Antonio Gibson on a first-and-10 from the Steelers’ 43-yard line. The ball popped out in front of Peppers, laying prone on the ground by then. He crawled toward it, clawing it with his right hand and pulling it under him.
While Peppers was impressive on Sunday, Elliott coming back provides a big boost for the defense, especially when it comes to communication in the secondary. He’s a vocal leader on the defense.
Elliott was one of the best Steelers defensive players last year. Elliott had the second-most tackles of any Steelers player last season, recording 108. Linebacker Patrick Queen, a fellow former Baltimore Raven, was the team’s leader.
Running back Jaylen Warren, tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. are all questionable to play at Croke Park this Sunday.
Warren was limited in practice all week and was seen wearing a compression sleeve on his right leg during practices at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex earlier this week.
The versatile back has been Pittsburgh’s top offensive weapon by far, leading the team in both rushing (132 yards) and receiving (142 yards) through three games. Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson would be the primary options to replace Warren if he’s unable to play or unable to play his full workload.
Smith was first listed as limited on Thursday’s injury report with a hip injury. It’s unclear when he suffered the injury. He has been the team’s co-starter at tight end, along with Pat Freiermuth, since coming over from the Miami Dolphins in a trade this summer.
Porter has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1. He returned to practice in a limited capacity this week.
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