Steelers’ win comes with a loss where they can least afford it as key starter works his way back from the injured reserve
The Pittsburgh Steelers left Tampa Bay with a huge win and a growing injury list. One name on that list matters more than the rest, and it puts the spotlight on a veteran’s long-awaited return.
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a huge win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it didn’t come without a price. Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols injured his hamstring during the game and did not return after Pittsburgh ruled him out.
Echols wasn’t the only one who got banged up. Three Steelers players picked up injuries against Tampa Bay, and that number climbs to four if you count Steelers coach Mike McCarthy. Here’s the full rundown.
Steelers injuries vs. Buccaneers
- Cornerback Brandon Echols: hamstring, did not return
- Safety Jaquan Brisker: groin, returned and finished the game
- Tight end Pat Freiermuth: calf, returned to the game
- Coach Mike McCarthy: ankle, finished the game on the sideline
Brisker’s injury didn’t keep him off the field for long, and he was able to close things out. Freiermuth’s situation is a bit more layered. He popped up on the injury report out of nowhere after Saturday’s walkthrough with a calf injury and was somewhat limited. He still played, reinjured the calf during the game, waved off the training staff, and came right back in.
As for McCarthy, he injured his ankle but toughed it out and called the game for Pittsburgh. You have to respect that.
Why the Brandin Echols injury is the one to watch
Of all the names on that list, Echols is the most concerning. The Steelers’ secondary isn’t exactly deep at cornerback, and losing a body at that position stings more for this team than it would for most.
Echols plays more of a slot cornerback role, which is a spot that requires a specific skill set. He has to handle quicker receivers in tight spaces, support against the run, and hold up in coverage on the inside. That isn’t a job you can hand to just anybody on the depth chart.
If Echols has to miss time with the hamstring, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a ton of proven options to slide into that role. That raises a bigger question about the defensive backfield as a whole and how the coaching staff plans to piece it together.
Could DeShon Elliott’s return soften the blow?
So the immediate question becomes: when exactly is DeShon Elliott going to be back for the Steelers?
Pittsburgh opened up his practice window about 10 days ago, so the clock is already ticking on a decision. Mike McCarthy said before the Buccaneers game that Elliott is “chomping at the bit,” ahead of his return.
That’s about as encouraging as it gets from a head coach. Elliott’s practice window is open, he’s eager to get back on the field, and McCarthy sounds confident that he’ll be ready when the team needs him.
Elliott’s return can’t come soon enough. Getting a veteran back in the defensive backfield would give the Steelers more flexibility to move pieces around if Echols is sidelined. It won’t replace what Echols brings in the slot on its own, especially since that’s a different position, but it could limit the damage and keep the secondary from getting stretched too thin.
How quickly Echols bounces back and how soon Elliott is ready will go a long way toward determining whether this secondary holds up over the next few weeks.
