Reports: Steelers acquire safety Kyle Dugger from Patriots in wake of DeShon Elliott injury

With DeShon Elliott suffering a second knee injury this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired some safety help by trading for Kyle Dugger of the New England Patriots, ESPN and NFL Network reported Tuesday night.

Dugger, 29, was in his sixth season with the Patriots and has experience at the strong and free safety spots. The Steelers are receiving a seventh-round pick along with Dugger and will send a sixth-round selection to the Patriots, according to the reports.

Elliott suffered a hyperextended knee in the third quarter Sunday of the Steelers’ 35-25 loss against the Green Bay Packers and will miss at least the team’s game this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts. Elliott missed two games with a knee injury earlier in the season.

Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers started games in Elliott’s absence, and they filled in during the second half against Green Bay. Juan Thornhill is the other veteran safety on the roster, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey has played safety some this season.

The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Dugger was the Patriots’ second-round pick in 2020, and he was signed to a four-year, $58 million contract extension in April 2024. But the Patriots have a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, and Dugger has started just four of seven games this season. He is signed through 2027.

When the Steelers played in New England in Week 3, Dugger had two tackles, but he did not start the game and played just 18 defensive snaps.

Dugger has started 69 of 81 career games. He started all 17 games in 2023 when he had two of his nine career interceptions. A year earlier, Dugger returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns.