Brooke Pryor
Nonetheless coursing with adrenaline after sealing the Pittsburgh Steelers' 24-21 win with a fourth-down cross break-up at Dublin's Croke Park, DeShon Elliott needed to get one thing off his chest.
“I ought to've picked it, first off,” he informed ESPN in his on-field postgame interview as he shook his finger, punctuating his level. “I did not know I used to be that near the ball. I ought to've picked it.”
If he had managed to nab Carson Wentz's last-ditch heave to Jordan Addison two weeks in the past, that may have been Elliott's second interception of the afternoon together with six tackles, a sack-fumble, two quarterback hits and a deal with for loss in his first recreation motion since sustaining an MCL sprain within the Week 1 win towards the New York Jets.
“It felt superb,” Elliott stated of his efficiency in his first recreation again. “I have been injured quite a bit in my profession, so having these trials and tribulations, man, all these ups and downs — actually when my knee obtained damage, I believed I used to be out for the season. So having the ability to come again and play with my guys, understanding that my vitality is contagious, understanding that my aggressions are contagious. … Cameron [Heyward], T.J. [Watt], PQ [Patrick Queen], I do know we going to hunt, so hey, I am excited, extra turnovers to go this yr.”
WELCOME BACK DESHON‼️
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBjRdr pic.twitter.com/zc0Ba50YJM
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 28, 2025
However for all of the emotion in Elliott's once-improbable return, it was the almosts and the what-ifs that also nagged on the security. As a unit, the Steelers' protection constructed on their five-takeaway efficiency towards the New England Patriots with two extra towards the Vikings, and held Minnesota to 6 first-half factors. However permitting 15 fourth-quarter factors largely overshadowed the positives of the afternoon.
Of their division-opening recreation towards the Cleveland Browns on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), the Steelers' protection desires to construct on the first-half efficiency of the Vikings win, one which was made attainable largely due to Elliott's return.
“Our protection is getting higher,” Elliott stated in Eire. “We will not have these psychological busts on the finish. They scored two touchdowns within the second half. We held 'em to 6 [points] within the first half. We obtained to remain that and hold that, so we could be among the best defenses within the league. We're opportunistic, clearly, however we obtained to cease being a bend-and-don't break protection. We obtained to get extra third down stops to get off the sector, however on the finish of the day, we obtained a dub.”
These busts included giving up an 81-yard catch-and-run explosive play from Wentz to Addison, stopped simply in need of the aim line because of Payton Wilson's dash — one which topped out at 22.48 mph in line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats — to catch the speedy huge receiver and drag him down in need of the rating. Even so, the Vikings scored 4 performs later for his or her second landing of the fourth quarter, capping a 99-yard drive to tug inside three factors of the Steelers. Regardless of the near-collapse within the fourth quarter, the Steelers protection nonetheless turned in its most full efficiency of the season as they held the Vikings to five.2 yards per play, together with 3.5 yards per carry — the Steelers' greatest mark of the season.
“You would be remiss in case you did not speak concerning the presence of DeShon Elliot being a serious element,” coach Mike Tomlin stated of the advance within the run protection. “I believed his presence was vital in that recreation final week being a down security, a man that performs in and across the line of scrimmage.”
Elliott's return helped shore up the run protection due to his well-timed and heat-seeking tackles, and he additionally gave a lift to the complete unit because the secondary's veteran communicator — one thing that was key when a number of defensive backs missed snaps towards the Vikings with accidents. Elliot's continued presence on the sector will likely be particularly necessary going through the Browns with their rising run recreation led by rookie Quinshon Judkins and tight end-heavy cross recreation anchored by veteran David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr.
“That is the place that he performs as a hub of communication, and so we're completely happy to have him again,” Tomlin stated Tuesday. “He is an excellent blitzer. Final week he had an interception and the sack fumble, and I believe I am extra enthusiastic about having these tangible issues again than a number of the issues that we're discussing.”
Although Tomlin downplayed the significance of Elliott's intangibles, his teammates have been fast to level out their worth — particularly as a result of noticeable communication points led to busts and large adverse performs throughout Elliott's two-game absence.
“He obtained the largest mouth on the workforce,” Queen stated this week as he shook his head and laughed. “Dude does not shut up, however if you're on the sector, that is the very best factor about it. Simply steady communication. Even typically when he do not know what the hell he is speaking about, dude's on level. He makes performs. I simply love having him again, and I like listening to him speak.”
Along with Elliott's continued presence, the Steelers' secondary can also be on observe to get a lift from the return of beginning cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring within the season opener. His return comes at an important level, too, as a result of the provision of versatile defensive again Jalen Ramsey is doubtful for Sunday's recreation after the veteran injured his hamstring late within the win towards the Vikings. That might shift free company addition Brandin Echols, who crammed in exterior throughout Porter Jr.'s absence, to the nickel. James Pierre might additionally proceed to rotate in, even with Porter Jr.'s return.
With so many shifting items, Elliott's function as a communicator is that rather more necessary.
“That is my man proper there,” Queen stated. “He simply brings a distinct motor, quite a lot of communication, quite a lot of hardnosed soccer, quite a lot of anger. The dude [was] pissing me off earlier than the sport, attempt to get me hype and stuff. So undoubtedly love him. Undoubtedly missed him, and I am glad he is again.”
