The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a significant move to strengthen their secondary by acquiring safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots on Tuesday evening, as reported by ESPN. In this exchange, the Steelers are sending a sixth-round pick to the Patriots, alongside another seventh-round pick.
To accommodate Dugger’s arrival, the Steelers will place safety DeShon Elliott on injured reserve due to a hyperextended knee injury. Elliott sustained his injury during last Sunday’s loss against the Green Bay Packers.
Dugger, who has been a consistent starter in New England under coach Bill Belichick, had recently lost his starting spot under first-year coach Mike Vrabel. Before the current season commenced, he was available on the trade market due to this demotion. In 2025, he has played in seven games and started four, boasting 17 combined tackles. However, he was sidelined during Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns because of a knee injury.
Dugger, who signed a $58 million contract extension in 2024, has served as a starting player in 69 out of 81 games since the Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. On the same day, the Patriots dealt defensive end Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers as well.
The Steelers are eager to bolster their secondary with Dugger’s addition. In their recent 35-25 defeat against the Packers, quarterback Jordan Love inflicted significant damage, with 360 passing yards and three touchdowns recorded against them. Additionally, the Steelers signed former Washington Commanders safety Darrick Forrest earlier on Tuesday to further enhance their lineup, following workouts with veteran safeties Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson as potential reserves.
Currently holding a 4-1 record, the Steelers are looking to bounce back from consecutive losses against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Packers, during which they surrendered 688 passing yards and six touchdowns. They aim to end this losing streak with their upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9.
