PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It hasn't garnered the attention because of the injury to George Pickens, but Steelers are without their second-leading tackler Sunday against Philadelphia.
A hamstring injury in-game against Cleveland led to him missing the Eagles game. In his first year with the team, Elliott has 96 tackles, two fewer than linebacker Patrick Queen. He has the most solo tackles by 14 and most fumbles recovered (three), is second on the team in forced fumbles (two) and third in passes defended (six).
"It's the next man up," said safety Damontae Kazee. "We all prepared ourselves for this. I think me and Cam (Sutton) will be ready for it, ready for the test. Ain't like we are going to strong safety or moving anywhere, we are going to the post. We will be alright."
Kazee has played only 23% of the defensive snaps in 2024, but he knows the defense. He's played in multiple spots and been a teammate with Minkah going on three full years. It's also the reason you take a chance on Sutton. You knew a suspension was coming, but the Steelers felt like he could help them. Now is his time to really impact what they are doing.
"I'm ready to toe the line, whatever it is," Sutton said Friday. "Being selfless, it's bigger than me."
In his five games this year, he's played 32% of the snaps in different roles. Now he's likely in a bigger role with Minkah, they have been teammates going into a fifth season.
"It helps when you have guys that have playing long time and in the system too," Sutton said. "We have a lot of guys that have been in the system and played different positions in the system."
"All the guys that we have in our secondary, we play a lot of ball together," Fitzpatrick said. "When a guy does go down it's comforting to know that we played a lot of ball with the next man up. There's not a lot of communication or lack of trust."
Communication is big, that's where Sutton says the big difference is from playing corner to moving inside. Outside, you are more on an island, inside your teammates have to know where you are going and you must know the same about them. Sutton had 95 tackles and five interceptions in his last two seasons with the Steelers, Kazee had 61 tackles last year with a pair of picks in Pittsburgh.
Specifically, for Kazee, he started nine games last year, but the team brought in Elliott as a free agent this season. It directly impacted his role and limited what he might be able to do. Kazee took it as more, big picture, doing what he could do to make the team successful.
"Continue to bitch, you can bitch all day, nobody is going to care," Kazee said. "Play your role, that's what I do."
"We got a second string here that could also go start somewhere else. We got roles in this defense. I got three packages. I think DeShon has three or four. You got to know your role, ain't looking to do something too much or too little. Know your role and play it well."
Kazee said those with roles prepare themselves for these opportunities. They know the game. They know the Steelers scheme.
"It's not like we got no reps out in a game," Kazee said. "It's not like we are going out there blindfolded."
As Sutton said, it's bigger than him. Steelers feel they are well prepared and this depth will be tested against the best rushing offense, one of the best offenses in the league period.
