Safety DeShon Elliott joins Steelers in Cincinnati to play vs. Bengals

CINCINNATI – Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott joined his teammates in Cincinnati by early afternoon Thursday and was in unform for that evening’s game against the Bengals.

Elliott was not part of the traveling party to Ohio when the Steelers left en masse Wednesday afternoon. The team cited a “personal” issue and gave him a questionable designation to play Thursday.

Before 2 p.m. Thursday, that questionable designation was removed.

A veteran strong safety, Elliott is amidst one of his best stretches of play over his seven NFL seasons. In his second season with the Steelers, Elliott had an interception, a forced fumble, a sack, two QB hits and 24 total tackles (13 solo, one for loss) in only three games.

Elliott missed two games last month because of a knee injury suffered during the season opener.

Elliott, 28, signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension over the summer that ties him to the Steelers through 2027. He has started 17 of the 18 games he’s played for the Steelers, his fourth team.

Killebrew to IR

Four days after suffering a knee injury that coach Mike Tomlin termed “significant,” special teams captain Miles Killebrew was placed on the injured reserve list prior to Thursday’s game.

Killebrew, a safety by trade, had not missed any of the Steelers’ 73 games since he joined the team in 2021. He was an AFC Pro Bowl representative each of the past two seasons and an AP NFL All Pro in 2023.

Killebrew’s injury — suffered while covering a kickoff — has raised questions about the field conditions at Acrisure Stadium for Sunday’s game. Several players have criticized the condition of the natural turf, and the field is being re-sodded before another game is played on it.