Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled out starting strong safety Kyle Dugger (hand) for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Dugger missed practice the past two days.
Chuck Clark, a former Raven, will likely replace Dugger at strong safety. Jabrill Peppers could also be in line to start.
Offensive tackle Calvin Anderson (knee) and rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee) are also out. Harmon was previously ruled out by head coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday.
Cornerback James Pierre (concussion protocol) does not have an injury designation and is good to go for Sunday. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hip) and linebacker Patrick Queen (glute) are also good to go.
Dugger’s 74-yard pick-six off Joe Flacco in the third quarter of the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was a rare feat. The last two Steelers safeties to have recorded pick sixes were Minkah Fitzpatrick and Troy Polamalu. To say the least, that’s pretty good company to join.
Duggar’s interception was the longest one since Fitzpatrick’s 96-yard pick-six against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. It was also the first pick-six by a Steelers safety since Fitzpatrick in 2022.
Dugger has turned heads since being acquired from the New England Patriots in a trade following DeShon Elliott’s knee injury in later October. With just three days of practice, Dugger started at strong safety in the Steelers’ Week 9 win over the Colts.
“This guy got on the moving train, man, and played a lot of defense for us today, and we needed it,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said afterward. “We were really short at the safety position. Coupled with D. Elliott’s injury. We have some illness and soft-tissue injuries. We’re running super thin, and that dude came in here … and gave us some quality work.”
Dugger had to immerse himself in a different vocabulary. His days since arriving were jam-packed.
“Just a bunch of work,” Dugger said. “Bunch of work. Meetings with my coaches. Looking at film. Making calls, things like that. Communicating with them. So it’s just been a grind of getting in the playbook.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Will Be Without Key Starter vs. Ravens
