Ekuale Out for Season; Elliott Listed Week-to-Week

In Week 8 against Green Bay, reserve defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale tore his ACL and is out for the season, pushing younger linemen such as Esezi Otomewo and Logan Lee into larger roles. Safety DeShon Elliott suffered a hyperextended knee; coach Mike Tomlin said Elliott’s ACL is intact, ruled him out for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts and listed him week-to-week while the team decides whether to place him on injured reserve. Despite the encouraging initial diagnosis, ESPN and other outlets report the team is bracing for the possibility Elliott could miss the remainder of the season. Pittsburgh is working out veteran safeties Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson as short-term options, but will rely on Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers to assume larger roles in the secondary. Elliott had 108 tackles last season and recently signed a two-year, $12.25 million extension, removing a key on-field communicator and further depleting a struggling Steelers defense.