Pittsburgh Steelers give unexpectedly positive injury update on DeShon Elliott

When Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott suffered a knee injury in Week 8, there was an immediate concern for his rest-of-season status.

After all, Elliott was carted off, which is typically a bad sign, as was how distraught the veteran defender looked as he exited to the locker room.

However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed on Tuesday that Elliott is dealing with a hyper-extended knee and is considered week-to-week. Injured reserve is a possibility for the veteran starter, also.

That said, this is good news, as a hyper-extended knee isn't typically a season-ending injury. Now, it looks like there's at least a chance he could return this season.

Tomlin's Tuesday update comes on the heels of ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reporting that the Steelers are "bracing" for Elliott to miss the rest of the season, although Fowler did add that Elliott's ACL is intact.

"The Steelers are bracing for safety DeShon Elliott to miss the rest of the season, per sources. His ACL is intact and he’s working through the nature of the leg injury, so Pittsburgh will hold out hope, but a return is not considered likely at this point," Fowler reported on Monday night.

It goes without saying the Steelers can ill-afford to lose someone who is their best player in the secondary. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks room is already struggling and nobody in the safeties room can fill Elliott's shoes.

Adding to that, Elliott is one of the team's vocal leaders and his presence in the locker room is a huge plus.

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