Steelers Fans Get A Big Update On Safety DeShon Elliott As Playoffs Begin

The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be at full strength heading into their Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans on Monday night. Aside from the few players currently on Injured Reserve, it seems as if the rest of the roster will be ready to go for Pittsburgh’s first home playoff game since 2020. A victory on Monday would not only end Pittsburgh's nine-year playoff win drought, but might also pave the way for the potential return of one of those sidelined players, safety DeShon Elliott, who has been recovering on IR since Week 8.

Elliott suffered what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury during Pittsburgh's 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers on October 26th. The extent of Elliott's injury was never announced, but the team placed him on Injured Reserve after trading for Kyle Dugger just a few days following the injury.

Not much had been said about Elliott's potential return, until earlier this week. Elliott posted a photo to his Instagram account with the caption, "TBC," causing rumors and speculations to be spread about the seventh-year man out of Texas.

While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Friday, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo spoke of what he had heard surrounding Elliott's status for the 2026 playoffs.

"Not this week, but I heard from the very beginning that there was a chance if they made a run in the playoffs that he could come back," Fittipaldo said. "We could maybe next week, maybe the practice window opens, and he could be a part of things, but certainly not for Houston on Monday night."

It is possible that many Steelers fans had forgotten about Elliott's injury, due to the impressive play at the safety position from Dugger, as well as Jalen Ramsey. When Elliott went down, many fans probably felt as if the season was coming to an end. Losing one of your top defenders with a tough schedule on the horizon didn't look promising, but Dugger and Ramsey have been able to hold down the fort. 

However, after a disappointing performance from the duo in Pittsburgh's 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens, a possible return for Elliott might help elevate the Steelers' defense to a postseason run. Even with Dugger and Ramsey stepping in admirably for the most part this season, there were moments last Sunday where the defense looked a little out of sync, especially in the secondary. Breakdowns in coverage led to three long touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter that nearly cost the Steelers the game and their season.

Elliott’s return wouldn't just be a boost for the Steelers’ secondary, it’s getting one of their best tackling defensive players back on the field. Even if he’s not 100% healthy, his presence alone makes the defense tougher to crack and gives the backend more confidence. If he can play at even close to full strength, Elliott could still make a big impact.

Steelers Must Win On Monday In Order To Potentially Get Elliott Back

Before the Steelers can even think about getting Elliott back on the field, there’s one thing they have to do first: beat the Houston Texans on Monday. Houston comes in red-hot, riding a nine-game winning streak, with one of the league’s fastest offenses and toughest defenses. 

Quarterback CJ Stroud has been playing at a high level this season, and the Steelers can’t afford any breakdowns in coverage, or it could cost them big.

Pittsburgh is chasing its first playoff win since the 2016 season, and a victory on Monday wouldn’t just keep their championship hopes alive, it could also open the door for one of their top defenders to return when the team needs him most.

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