PITTSBURGH -- On a defense that boasts a former Defensive Player of the Year, two Super Bowl rings and a combined 17 Pro Bowl selections, a former sixth-rounder on his fourth team might fly under the radar -- at least for those outside the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Those inside, though, know safety DeShon Elliott is critical to the Pittsburgh Steelers' success.
And without an injury designation for Week 17 after missing two weeks with a hamstring issue, the safety's return is even more crucial as the Steelers face a multifaceted Kansas City Chiefs offense that boasts one of the league's best tight ends in Travis Kelce on Christmas Day (1 p.