Steelers safety Elliott cleared to return after long injury layoff

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 08:15 · Archive

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott, who missed 364 days recovering from knee and ligament surgery, has declared himself fully healthy.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott has cleared himself for action after recovering from knee and ligament surgery that sidelined him for 364 days. He returned to play in Sunday's win against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, marking his first game of 2026 after his injury ended his 2025 season on 26 October 2025.

Coach Mike McCarthy reported that everything had gone positively with Elliott's return. Elliott himself said on Wednesday that he "felt good" and that his body responded well to playing in a game again. However, he played only 19 defensive snaps at Stade de France, far fewer than the 57 snaps played by fellow safety Jaquan Brisker. Elliott did not start the game, despite having started 19 of his previous 20 games with the Steelers before his injury.

When asked whether the Steelers were using a "pitch count" to limit his snaps during his return, Elliott declined to answer the question directly. "I mean, I'm just happy I'm healthy. I'm going to play wherever they need me at and when they need me to play," he said. He made clear that it was not his health that prevented him from playing more snaps. Rookie Robert Spears-Jennings started at safety opposite Brisker.

How it is being reported

• Steelers safety DeShon Elliott details his long, tedious rehab from a 'gruesome' hamstring injuryPittsburgh Post-Gazette · 29 Oct, 08:00
• After playing only 19 snaps in return, Steelers DeShon Elliott declares himself fully healthyIn regards to his health after emerging from playing in a meaningful NFL game for the first time in 364 days, there was nothing but good news to report in regards to DeShon Elliott.TribLIVE · 29 Oct, 01:07

In this story: DeShon Elliott · Pittsburgh Steelers · Mike McCarthy · New Orleans Saints · Paris · Jaquan Brisker · Robert Spears-Jennings

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