Echols (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Echols was injured on a Buccaneers punt in the first half. He limped off the field and was eventually ruled out coming out of halftime due to a hamstring injury. With Echols done for the remainder of Week 6, rookie Daylen Everette will need to step up.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Cleared to play Thursday
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Echols (concussion) no longer has an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Browns.
A limited practice participant through Week 4 prep, Echols had been listed as questionable heading into Thursday. However, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com relayed Wednesday that the cornerback had cleared the five-step concussion protocol, and the Steelers have now signed off on Echols playing on a short week. Through Pittsburgh's first three games, Echols has accrued two tackles while handling a limited role on defense and serving as a key player on special teams.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Questionable after clearing protocol
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Echols (concussion) is listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Browns, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reported Wednesday.
Echols cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol Wednesday but remains questionable for Thursday's game. It is unclear why the cornerback may be held out of the contest, but it may have to do with the limited amount of prep the 28-year-old was able to achieve in a short week.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: In concussion protocol
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Echols (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in Monday's practice estimate.
Echols departed late in Sunday's 30-27 win over the Bengals to get checked for a concussion, and his appearance on the Steelers' initial Week 4 injury report suggests he's following the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries. The reserve cornerback will have two more chances to upgrade to full practice participation this week and then potentially gain clearance from an independent neurologist, which would put him on track to play Thursday versus the Browns.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Being checked for concussion
Rotowire
Echols is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bengals, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Echols took a hit to the head while on special teams but was able to walk off the field under his own power. He hasn't seen much playing time on defense this season, but if he can't return, then Daylen Everette and Doneiko Slaughter would be the primary depth options at cornerback.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Nursing ankle injury
Rotowire
Echols did not participate in Friday's training camp practice due to an ankle injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Echols may have sustained the injury during a training camp practice earlier in the week. His practice participation over the next few days will provide clarity on his chances of playing in Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Increased output in Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Echols recorded 48 total tackles (34 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 16 games during the 2025 regular season.
Echols joined the Steelers ahead of the 2025 campaign after four seasons with the Jets, and he was able to see an uptick in his production. The cornerback registered six passes defensed, two of which were interceptions, and he has now notched at least two interceptions on three of his five NFL seasons. Echols will enter 2026 in the final year of his two-year, $6 million contract with Pittsburgh, and he'll look to compete for a starting role at slot cornerback.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Good to go against Baltimore
Rotowire
Echols (groin) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Echols was unable to play against the Browns in Week 17 due to a groin injury, but the fifth-year pro has been cleared to play in Sunday's regular-season finale after logging a full practice Friday. Echols has started in three of 15 regular-season games while also contributing on special teams and has accumulated 48 tackles (34 solo), including 1.0 sacks, six pass defenses (two interceptions), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2025.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Limited to begin Week 18 prep
Rotowire
Echols (groin) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Echols hurt his groin Week 16 against Detroit and missed this past Sunday's loss to Cleveland because of the issue. With a limited practice under his belt to begin this week, the veteran cornerback appears to have a chance of returning to action for Sunday's matchup versus Baltimore, which will determine the winner of the AFC North. With that said, Echols' playing time had been slipping even before the injury, and he hasn't reached a 50 percent defensive snap share since Week 12.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Ruled out for Sunday
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Echols (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Echols exited during the first half of last Sunday's win over the Lions and was unable to return to the contest. The slot cornerback's groin injury proved to be too much for him to practice with this week. Jalen Ramsey moved to the slot last Sunday when Echols exited and will likely start there again for this Sunday's divisional tilt, leaving Jabrill Peppers to fill Ramsey's place at free safety.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Ruled out with groin injury
Rotowire
Echols (groin) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Echols sustained a groin injury in the first half of Sunday's game and was quickly ruled out. Asante Samuel will likely take over at slot cornerback for the injured starter.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Back in action
Rotowire
Echols (head) has returned to action in Sunday's contest against Baltimore, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Echols was briefly sidelined after taking a blow to the head, but he cleared concussion protocol and he's now back out on the field. The 28-year-old is operating in his starting role at slot cornerback versus the Ravens.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Being evaluated for concussion
Rotowire
Echols is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup with the Ravens, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Echols took a blow to the head in the second half of the contest, and his status for the rest of the game is now in question. In his absence, Asante Samuel is a top candidate to see added work at cornerback versus Baltimore.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Absent from injury report
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Echols (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Echols tweaked his ankle during the Steelers' Week 11 win over the Bengals. His absence from Wednesday's injury report indicates that the injury isn't a serious issue, and he is on track to play against the Bears on Sunday. Echols has accumulated 24 tackles (16 solo), two pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in six games since the Steelers' Week 5 bye.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Questionable to return Sunday
Rotowire
Echols (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Echols exited the second half of Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Before the cornerbacks' departure, he logged five tackles, including two solo tackles. If Echols is unable to return D'Shawn Jamison is next in line to take over at slot cornerback.
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Jets' Brandin Echols: Has promising 2024 campaign
Rotowire
Echols logged 40 tackles (29 solo), three pass defenses (including two interceptions) and a recovered fumble over 16 games (four starts) during the regular season.
Echols' role fluctuated significantly throughout the campaign -- for example, he logged over 90 percent of New York's defensive snaps in four games but played exclusively on special teams in four other contests. Nonetheless, he co-led New York with two pickoffs, marking the second time in four career campaigns he's notched multiple interceptions. Echols will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and if he returns to the Jets he has an opportunity to move into a starting role, as fellow cornerback D.J. Reed is unlikely to come back.
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Jets' Brandin Echols: Downgraded to out for Week 15
Rotowire
Echols (shoulder) will sit out Sunday's contest against Jacksonville, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Echols was originally deemed doubtful for Sunday's matchup, but that designation changed to out a few hours later. The fourth-year cornerback worked as a starter in place of Sauce Gardner (hamstring) this past Sunday against Miami and tallied 10 tackles and a defensed pass. Gardner is set to return Week 15, but in addition to Echols sitting out, fellow cornerback D.J. Reed is doubtful due to a groin issue.
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Jets' Brandin Echols: Likely missing Week 15
Rotowire
Echols (shoulder) is listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Echols opened the Jets' week of practice as a limited participant before downgrading to a DNP on Thursday, suggesting that he's trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday. If the Kentucky product is sidelined as expected in Week 15, Qwan'tez Stiggers could see increased work as the Jets' top rotational outside cornerback.
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Jets' Brandin Echols: Productive game in place of Sauce
Rotowire
Echols finished with 10 tackles (nine solo) and a pass breakup in Sunday's 32-26 loss to the Dolphins.
The 2021 sixth-round pick drew the start with Sauce Gardner out due to a hamstring injury, and he played on all 66 defensive snaps. Echols has appeared in all 13 of New York's games this season, including three starts, recording 31 tackles (23 solo), three pass breakups, including two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. His status for next week's matchup with the Jaguars will likely depend on Gardner's availability.
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Jets' Brandin Echols: Slated to start Sunday sans Sauce
Rotowire
Echols is expected to start at cornerback for the Jets in Sunday's Week 14 game against Miami, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Sauce Gardner (hamstring) is doubtful for the matchup against the Dolphins, likely making room for Echols to slide into a starting role. Echols has largely played on special teams this year, but he does have two starts under his belt, logging five tackles and an interception Week 2 against Tennessee and recording six stops Week 7 against Pittsburgh. If he does start Sunday, Echols could have his hands full trying to slow down Miami's talented wideout duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
