PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers' task of slowing tight end Tyler Warren and the juggernaut Indianapolis Colts offense just got even more difficult.
Hours after officially placing safety DeShon Elliott on injured reserve with a hyperextended knee, the Steelers ruled safety Jabrill Peppers out with a quad injury.
Peppers, a former member of the New England Patriots who was signed by the Steelers earlier this season after Elliott's Week 1 knee injury, first appeared on the injury report as a limited participant in Thursday's practice and didn't practice on Friday.
The Steelers also listed safety Chuck Clark as questionable with an illness for Sunday's game. Clark took some of Elliott's responsibilities in accounting for Packers tight end Tucker Kraft in the loss to the Packers after Elliott's third-quarter injury.
Entering this week, the Steelers' strong safeties on the depth chart were Elliott, Clark and Peppers, while Juan Thornhill was the only player listed at free safety. The Steelers have two safeties on the practice squad in former Commanders fifth-round pick Darrick Forrest and rookie Jack Henderson. The Steelers signed Forrest to the practice squad earlier this week after working out a number of free agents including former Bengals safety Vonn Bell.
The Steelers further added to the group by trading for Patriots safety Kyle Dugger, a 2020 second-round pick, on Tuesday, but he first practiced with the team on Thursday. Dugger appeared on the practice report with a knee injury but he was a full participant at practice on Thursday and Friday.
"We're going to try to do the best we can to get him ready to be available for us in some capacity," defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of Dugger.
The secondary isn't the only area of the Steelers' defense with availability questions entering Sunday's game. Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, a piece of the run defense charged with slowing Jonathan Taylor, is questionable with an illness.
The Steelers could get back inside linebacker Malik Harrison, who was placed on IR with a knee injury, but has been designated to return and is reaching the end of his 21-day practice window. He was designated as questionable for the game. The Steelers, though, ruled cornerback Cory Trice Jr. out for the Colts game. Trice's practice window to return from IR was opened earlier this week, but he popped up with a knee injury in practice as he tried to return from his hamstring injury. Trice was limited Thursday and didn't practice Friday.
