Steelers continue to deal with injuries on defense as they prepare to face Patriots

Backups, and one in case a third-stringer on the depth chart, could be starting at four positions for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense Sunday when they play the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Isaiahh Loudermilk, who was starting because of attrition at defensive end, and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith will miss the game because of high ankle sprains, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference.

Strong safety DeShon Elliott remains “questionable at best,” according to Tomlin, who provided the same characterization for first-round pick Derrick Harmon on the defensive line. Tomlin also said cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is questionable because of a hamstring injury.

All of which means the Steelers could be starting their third option at defensive end and backups at outside linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Harmon has missed the first two games with a knee injury, and Loudermilk left in the first half of the Steelers’ 31-17 loss to Seattle. Tomlin said Loudermilk’s absence could be measured in weeks. Highsmith also was injured in the first half, but Tomlin said that injury isn’t as serious as the one sustained by Loudermilk.

Neither Elliott nor Porter played against the Seahawks. Chuck Clark started in place of Elliott, and the Steelers used Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay as outside cornerbacks in that game. Juan Thornhill played free safety.

“It’s our job and their job to adapt and adjust, to put together the appropriate formula in terms of mixes of people, how we divide the labor up and what we do schematically,” Tomlin said.

Because of injuries, the Steelers had to scrap a plan in which they had three outside linebackers in the game on third down. That plan was altered in the first quarter with Highsmith’s injury. Nick Herbig will replace Highsmith, and rookie Jack Sawyer could see increased snaps as the top backup to Herbig and T.J. Watt.

After Loudermilk exited, the Steelers used a rotation that included rookie Yahya Black, second-year player Logan Lee, who spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve, and veteran Daniel Ekuale. Esezi Otomewo, who was inactive the first two games, likely will move into the rotation against New England.

“It’s not only their youth, it’s our collective youth in this season that is 2025,” Tomlin said. “Injuries are a part of the game. Certainly, you adapt and you move on, but it probably comes with more challenges at the early portion of the year. I think we’ve kind of felt the effects of that.”

In addition, inside linebacker Patrick Queen (oblique) and cornerback Slay (shoulder) are dealing with injuries sustained against the Seahawks. They are expected to play Sunday, although they may be limited in practice this week, Tomlin said.

Defensive downer

Communication was an issue on the Seahawks’ first touchdown when Tory Horton was open on a 21-yard pass off play action. Ramsey was the closest pursuer, and he trailed Horton by several steps.

It wasn’t lost on Tomlin that, with Porter and Elliott missing the game, the Steelers had four veteran starters in the secondary who played elsewhere last season.

“Most of my concerns are centered around that, the level of cohesion and communication given the fact so many guys are new to us,” he said.

Seattle also converted 6 of 14 chances on third down — two on the opening drive and four in the second half. Four of the six conversions came when the Seahawks needed at least 6 yards for a first down.

“I just thought in general we could have been tighter in coverage and more solid in terms of some of our communication,” Tomlin said. “Oftentimes the tightness of coverage was a reflection of understanding and fluid communication. We have to get better in some of those areas.”

Tomlin didn’t disagree that his defense “wore down” in the fourth quarter when the Seahawks went 73 yards in seven plays and took a two-touchdown lead when Kenneth Walker scored on a third-and-19 run.

“We had the desire to improve our run defense,” Tomlin said. “I thought initially we did, but there was an attrition component to the game, and our lines got a little thin at various points.”

Familiar face

The Steelers let Robert Spillane leave in free agency after the 2022 season, opting to remake the inside linebacker group around free agents Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb. After spending two years in Las Vegas, Spillane signed with the Patriots. New England coach Mike Vrabel had familiarity with Spillane from their days in Tennessee before Spillane hooked up with the Steelers.

A backup with the Steelers, Spillane became a two-year starter for the Raiders. He has started both games for the Patriots and has six tackles.

“He’s evolved, and evolved in a big way, over the course of his career,” Tomlin said. “I have a lot of respect for him and his talents. He’s an every-down situational player. He’s a good communicator. He’s a really good quarterback key-er, and he’s really kind of the hub of communication and the center of all the things they do.”

The game also will mark safety Jabrill Peppers’ return to New England. The Patriots released him in August after three seasons with the organization.

Peppers played seven snaps — all on special teams — in his Steelers debut against Seattle.

“Being it’s his second week here, I’m open to expanding the utilization of him not only as a team but as a defender,” Tomlin said.

Help coming

The Steelers are adding to their wide receiver depth by signing former Buffalo Bills and New York Giants pass catcher Isaiah Hodgkins, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

Hodgkins, a sixth-round pick in 2020, has played in 83 career games. He has 60 career receptions for 634 yards and seven touchdowns. He had four touchdown catches with the Giants in 2022 and three in 2024. After appearing in just three games last year, he signed with San Francisco in the offseason but was waived in late August.