PITTSBURGH — Two injured defensive backs returned to practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday for the first time since their injuries.
Strong safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. both were limited participants in Wednesday's practice session at UPMC Sports Complex as the Steelers get set to travel to Dublin, Ireland to face the Minnesota Vikings .
Elliott and Porter were both injured during the Steelers' Week 1 win over the New York Jets . Elliott has been dealing with an MCL sprain, while Porter has a hamstring injury. Chuck Clark and Brandin Echols have been replacing the pair of defensive backs, and they'll greatly benefit from the added depth if Porter and/or Elliott is able to return against Justin Jefferson , Jordan Addison , T.J. Hockenson and company this week.
| Player |
Roster |
Injury |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILB Patrick Queen |
Active |
Oblique |
LP |
PROB |
||
| CB Darius Slay |
Active |
Leg contusion/rest |
DNP |
PROB |
||
| OLB Alex Highsmith |
Active |
Left high ankle sprain |
DNP |
OUT |
||
| CB Joey Porter Jr. |
Active |
Hamstring |
LP |
QUES |
||
| SS DeShon Elliott |
Active |
MCL sprain |
LP |
QUES |
||
| IR (Week 8) |
Right high ankle sprain |
IR |
IR |
|||
| CB Cory Trice |
IR-R (Week 6) |
Hamstring |
IR |
IR |
IR |
|
| IR (Week 7) |
Hamstring |
IR |
IR |
IR |
||
| IR (Week 7) |
MCL Sprain |
IR |
IR |
IR |
||
| QB Will Howard |
IR (Week 6) |
Broken right pinky |
IR |
IR |
IR |
|
| CB Donte Kent |
IR (Week 6) |
Right foot/ankle |
IR |
IR |
IR |
|
| IR |
ACL sprain |
IR |
IR |
IR |
IR – SEASON |
Queen suffered an oblique injury during the Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks . He played in Week 3 and is expected to play in Week 4, but was limited in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Slay suffered a leg contusion in Week 3 against the New England Patriots . He did not practice on Wednesday, Sept. 24, but was listed as a resting veteran and not with an injury status. He is expected to play in Week 4.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott is helped off the field after an injury against the New York Jets on Sept. 7, 2025,. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Elliott suffered a knee injury during the Steelers' Week 1 win over the New York Jets. He did not return to the game and was diagnosed with an MCL sprain . Elliott did not play in Week 2 or Week 3. He is questionable to return in Week 4. Elliott returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at minicamp on June 11, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers. Now
Porter Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the New York Jets. Tomlin said he was held out as a precaution, but Porter did not practice the following week and missed the team's Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks and Week 3 game against the New England Patriots.
He is questionable to return in Week 4. Porter returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith at practice on Sept. 10, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Highsmith was limited in practice on Friday, Sept. 12 — the first sign that there was a problem with his left ankle. He tried to play in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, but left the game in the first half and did not return.
Highsmith is expected to avoid injured reserve , but did not play in Week 3 and has already been ruled out for Week 4's game against the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland.
Scharping tore his ACL in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 17 and he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season. He was placed on the injured reserve list on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice at practice on Aug. 18, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Trice suffered a hamstring injury during the team's Friday Night Lights practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium on Aug. 1. He returned to practice in a limited capacity before being placed on the injured reserve list on Aug. 26. By rule, Trice must spend at least four weeks on the injured reserve list. He is eligible to return in Week 6, after the Steelers' bye, against the Cleveland Browns . Trice will count as one of the team's eight IR-return designations, whether he actually returns or not.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison at practice on Sept. 4, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Harrison suffered a knee injury against the New York Jets in Week 1. He was placed on the injured reserve list on Wednesday, Sept. 10 and by rule must remain there until Week 7.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson at OTAs on May 29, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Thompson suffered a hamstring injury in practice leading up to the Steelers' Week 1 game against the New York Jets, while playing the role of Justin Fields on the Steelers' scout team offense. He was dressed against the Jets as the emergency third quarterback, but was placed on the injured reserve list on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and by rule must remain there until Week 7.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Kent at rookie minicamp on May 9, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Kent suffered a right foot/ankle injury in training camp. He returned to practice in a limited capacity before the team's cut-down to 53 players on Aug. 26. Kent made the initial roster, but was placed on the injured reserve list the next day. He must miss at least four weeks by rule and is eligible to return in Week 6, after the Steelers' bye, against the Cleveland Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard after suffering a finger injury at training camp practice on Aug. 5, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Howard suffered a broken right pinky finger , during training camp practice on Aug. 5. He made the team's initial 53-man roster, but was placed on injured on Aug. 27. He must miss at least four weeks and is eligible to return from IR in Week 6, after the Steelers' bye.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 14, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Loudermilk suffered a high ankle sprain to his right ankle during the Steelers' Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was carted off the field and placed on injured reserve on Sept. 17 . He will be out until at least Week 8.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Injury Updates: Two Key Defenders Return to Practice
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