Overview
- Jamel Dean, who exited the Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns with an ankle sprain, is expected to miss multiple weeks according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport and team coverage on Sunday.
- Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon also suffered a foot injury in the same game and is expected to miss several weeks, further thinning the defensive unit.
- Pittsburgh depleted outside-corner depth earlier in the week when it traded Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving fewer veteran options behind Dean.
- Coaches plan to shift coverage responsibilities to Jalen Ramsey, rookie Daylen Everette and other available corners with Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols providing slot and depth snaps.
- The timing matters because the Steelers have shown pass-defense weaknesses through four games and face the Colts, Buccaneers, Saints (Paris) and Browns over the next several weeks, with Dean's exact return date still uncertain but possibly arriving later in the stretch.