Pittsburgh's defense has faded in the absence of key role players, some of whom might remain out against the Chiefs on Christmas Day.

The Steelers will be without top run defender DeShon Elliott for the second game in a row, while wide receiver George Pickens also will not play against the Ravens.

Elliott (hamstring) was a full participant in Monday's practice ahead of Pittsburgh's Week 17 outing against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. Elliot has missed back-to-back games for the Steelers,

Elliott (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Ravens, Burt Lautenof the Pittsburgh Steelers reports.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost three games in 11 days, all by double digits, as they watch their AFC North chances fade as a result. Two Ravens wins to end t

Alex Highsmith was one of the Pittsburgh Steelers to call out the team after losing their third straight game.

Two practices into the week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, three starters have yet to take the field because of injury. Safety DeShon Elliott, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and receiver George Pickens again sat out practice Thursday,

The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Chiefs with everything on the line, and these five bold predictions highlight what could unfold in Week 17.

It sounds like strong safety DeShon Elliott could miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury that surfaced just after last week’s game. But free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick offered up the perfect solution for how the Steelers will adapt to the loss of Elliott.

Now, the team faces both internal and external criticism, pointing to issues from the locker room to the coaching staff. While they still have a chance to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team, their postseason success appears increasingly unlikely.

The defense got the necessary stops in the second quarter after allowing 13 points to Kansas City on its first two possessions – the Chiefs missed a PAT in perhaps their only mistake of the game – but then allowed 17 points on three consecutive possessions to open the second half.