The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t waste any time addressing a big concern.
With starting safety DeShon Elliott out with an injury, they went out to sign a prime replacement.
Now, that newcomer has settled on his jersey number.
“Jabrill Peppers will wear No. 40,” Nick Farabaugh posted on X.
Jabrill Peppers will wear No. 40.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 10, 2025
Elliott dodged a serious injury, but his mild MCL sprain is going to sideline him for several weeks.
It was somewhat surprising to see the New England Patriots cut Peppers, who became one of the best free agents available in the early stages of the season.
There are some concerns about his usage in Pittsburgh, though.
He’s used to playing strong safety, so possibly moving to free safety might be an adjustment, although he’s likely capable of doing so.
The Steelers lost a star at the position when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who proved to be more than worth the gamble with a throwback performance in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
He was one of the few bright spots on a Steelers defense that gave up 32 points to a Justin Fields offense.
Pittsburgh is expected to be much better against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, and adding another proven veteran like Peppers to the mix should help them in that regard.
