The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding a veteran to their struggling secondary as they are reportedly in agreement to trade for New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger, according to an NFL.com report on Tuesday night.

The Steelers plan to place safety DeShon Elliott on the injured reserve list after he sustained a hyperextended knee on Sunday night in a 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Elliott will miss at least four weeks.

While the Steelers are last in the NFL in passing defense, Elliott has been a bright spot after missing the first two games of the season recovering from knee surgery. He leads the team's defensive backs with 38 total tackles, including 20 solos, and one sack.

Dugger has spent his entire six-year career with the Patriots. However, his playing time has decreased this year in Mike Vrabel's first season as New England's coach.

The 29-year-old Dugger has started just four of the Patriots' seven games, losing snaps to Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson. Dugger has 17 tackles, including seven solo stops, and has not had an interception for a second straight season.

The Patriots chose Dugger in the second round of the 2020 draft from Lenior-Rhyne. He has made 69 career starts.

Dugger signed a four-year, $ 58-million contract extension before last season. However, the final two years in 2026 and 2027 will be voided by the trade, and the Patriots will reportedly pay most of Dugger's remaining $5.4-million salary for this season.

The teams are also exchanging picks in the 2026 draft. The Patriots will send a seventh-rounder to the Steelers for a sixth-round selection.

The Steelers are giving up 273.3 passing yards a game this season, including 372 to the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Flacco and 360 to the Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love in the last two games, both losses.

The Steelers also added veteran safety Darrick Forrest to the practice squad on Tuesday. Forrest played in 40 games and made 17 starts during four seasons with the Washington Commanders from 2021-24.

The 26-year-old has four career interceptions and two forced fumbles. Washington drafted Forrest in the fifth round in 2021 from Cincinnati.

The Buffalo Bills released Forrest this year at the end of training camp. The Indianapolis Colts signed him to the practice squad on Sept. 9 but cut him four days later.