The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed strong safety Trenton Thompson on the injured reserve list, the team announced on Wednesday, ending his 2023 season.
Thompson had been attempting to return from a neck stinger suffered on Dec. 16 against the Indianapolis Colts. He returned to finish that game after the injury, but missed each of the team’s final three games.
Thompson had returned to practice in recent weeks, and participated in the team’s practice on Wednesday, but was placed on the IR list immediately thereafter.
Thompson said before the team’s Week 17 game against the Seattle Seahawks that he was targeting a return for the first week of the postseason, but said on Wednesday that he was not likely to play this coming week.
A second-year pro out of San Diego State, the Steelers signed Thompson early in training camp when they had their first rash of injuries at the safety position. Thompson gained valuable reps and stood out among the crowd of fill-ins at that spot.
He turned that performance into a practice squad slot, and when safety injuries cropped up in-season again, he was elevated from the practice squad twice before fully signed to the active roster.
Thompson played in six games and made one start at strong safety, recording 22 tackles, three passes defended and one interception. In addition to his role on defense, Thompson also played significant time on the Steelers’ special teams units.
Thompson’s move to the injured reserve list coincided with the return of safety Damontae Kazee from his three-game suspension. The Steelers will go into the playoffs with Kazee, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Eric Rowe, Elijah Riley, Miles Killebrew and possibly Patrick Peterson at safety.
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