Pittsburgh Steelers get new option to help replace standout safety after injury

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Cameron Sutton (20) warms up before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)AP

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers werewithout standout safety DeShon Elliott on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, a significant blow to the team’s run defense. Damontae Kazee, who is in his third year with the Steelers, started for the team. However, the Steelers will have another safety option that might not be listed as a true safety on their roster.

Since his return, Cam Sutton has played in the slot, dimebacker, and safety, and after working through their training camp, it was Sutton who played safety in the team’s three safety packages with Elliott out.

Kazee hinted that Sutton could see a lot of time back there. Sutton is getting used to playing on the back end in that arrangement, especially since it’s an entirely different view from slot cornerback or even dimebacker.

“The biggest thing is about having more communication,” Sutton said. “In the nickel or outside, you can play man up or you might have one word to communicate with another guy. Back there, you have entire play calls, so having those calls and getting them down is the biggest difference.”

The Steelers have been trying to tweak their slot cornerback usage between Sutton and Beanie Bishop over the last few weeks, but with Elliott’s injury, the team will likely use Sutton more at safety than in the slot if he continues to miss games.