Steelers Safety Injured Against Texans

In a heated matchup with the Houston Texans, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to veteran safety Chuck Clark at the starting safety position. The 30-year-old defensive back is in his first season with the organization, and he's been an important piece of the secondary rotation since signing in Pittsburgh.

Through the first half of the game, Clark was a key piece of a stingy Steelers defense. The group created two turnovers in the first two quarters as they made life difficult for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

But during the Steelers' final defensive stand of the first half, they suffered their first injury of the game. As Clark and cornerback Brandin Echols went toward the intended receiver on a play, the two Steelers defenders collided. Immediately after the play, Clark needed tended to by the team medical staff and was assisted off the field.

Clark was then taken to the blue medical tent on the Steelers' sidelines for further evaluation.

Steelers' Plan Without Clark

Without Clark in the game, the safety rotation goes down to a tandem. Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey has occupied the other starting safety position and is now joined by Kyle Dugger. Dugger was a last-minute addition from the New England Patriots before this season's trade deadline.

In the immediate weeks after his acquisition, Dugger was starter and played the majority of the snaps. As the Steelers have fought through the end of their regular season schedule, he began to concede snaps to Clark.

That led to Clark getting the starting nod in the Wild Card contest against the Texans. Now that Clark is injured, Dugger will be counted on to provide that stability alongside Ramsey on the back end.