Back from dad duty, Jay Elliott re-joins Steelers – and could be needed on defense

Jay Elliott’s sabbatical from the Pittsburgh Steelers lasted all of 12 days.

“I really think they just wanted to give me an extended bye,” Elliott joked Friday from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, “so they paid me that courtesy.”

A veteran journeyman outside linebacker, Elliott was released Oct. 11 when the Steelers needed the roster space for injury fill-ins at quarterback and running back in advance of their game at the Los Angeles Chargers.

At the time, the Steelers told him they hoped to bring him back at some point. That point came Wednesday after the NFL placed Anthony Chickillo on the restricted list following his arrest at the Nemacolin resort last weekend.

Because the Steelers had their annual idle week in between, Elliott only missed two practices while he was with his family at their Dallas home.

“It gave me a couple days to be a stay-at-home dad for a little bit,” the 27-year-old said. “Take my kids to school and stuff like that, so I enjoyed it. And the Steelers were very reasonable as well, even when I was flying back, they made sure I at least had time to drop my kids off that day before I caught a flight out.”

Elliott said he kept in touch with several teammates daily and that he even spoke with coach Mike Tomlin over his time away from the team. General manager Kevin Colbert likewise was in contact with Elliott’s agent, apparently playing for an eventuality like the one that brought Elliott back.

“There wasn’t any doubt in mind I would be back here at some point,” said Elliott, who’s played in 42 NFL regular-season games since joining Green Bay as an undrafted rookie in 2014. “We know how this business goes, guys go down or incidents happen, stuff like that, so you’ve got to stay ready.”

Jayrone Elliott strips Grier and takes the fumble 88 YARDS TO THE HOUSE.@Jay_Elliott15

?: #PITvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
Watch on mobile: https://t.co/jxaVMt4oR2 pic.twitter.com/yC8bJsXkiS

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2019

Elliott needs to be ready immediately to play on defense; barring a late roster move, he’s one of only four outside linebackers on the active roster heading into Monday’s game against the Miami Dolphins – and one of those, Ola Adeniyi, has sparse NFL regular-season experience on defense.

Elliott’s primary role had been special teams through three games he played for the Steelers after being a late signing in training camp, a roster cut and then getting re-signed for Week 2 of the regular season. But he did manage 12 defensive snaps, and that number figures to grow Monday.

“Yeah, I’m counting on the Monday night adrenaline to help me get through that,” Elliott said with a smile.

“You’ve got to stay ready whenever your number is called,” Elliott said, “and right now I know my role is (mostly) special teams, and I try to do my best in that end. Hopefully I can make some plays.”

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