Predicting the Steelers’ Week 4 inactive list vs. the Ravens

The inactive list is a little bit harder to predict this week than in the last few. Does a player go from starting in Week 3 to inactive in week 4? Will a player be active this week for the first time this season? Each of these situations is something to look for on Sunday night.

Game Status

Doubtful:

CB Mike Hilton (Elbow)

S Morgan Burnett (Groin)

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for Week 4:

Definitely:

Steelers fans should feel very lucky. For the third straight week, no one has been ruled out before the game. The Ravens already have two players out and seven listed as questionable.

Most Likely:

QB Mason Rudolph- same story, different week.

S Morgan Burnett- Once again, his weekly progress was in the wrong direction. Going from full to limited, to not practicing within the span of three days, it’s not looking good for Burnett to make it back.

CB Mike Hilton- I was hopeful for Hilton to go when he had progressed to limited participation on Thursday. But he was out again Friday, which is the wrong direction to be going in order to get a helmet.

DT L.T. Walton- Until the injury bug bites, Walton will be on the sideline. I feel confident he can perform if given the chance, but I must say I hope the chance doesn’t come.

WR Justin Hunter- He’s basically an insurance policy against serious injury at this point of the season.

OT Zach Banner- He got a helmet last week with two other lineman being injured, but he never stepped foot onto the field. This week he gets to do the same thing in street clothes.

Possibly:

OT Matt Feiler or Chuks Okorafor- It’s strange Feiler would start last week while playing 100% of the offensive snaps and then be inactive the following week. But with DeCastro and Gilbert coming back, there’s just not enough helmets for everybody. Even though Feiler got the start at RT, Chuks would be the fill-in at LT and also plays the extra-TE role.

S Marcus Allen- He has yet to be active this season, but if both Burnett and Hilton can’t go, it would be wise to have more depth in the defensive backfield.

Unlikely:

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster- Although he missed Wednesday with an abdominal injury, JuJu’s progress was in the upward direction — so much so, he didn’t wind up on the status report.

Projected Inactive List:

1) Mason Rudolph

2) Morgan Burnett

3) Mike Hilton

4) L.T. Walton

5) Justin Hunter

6) Zach Banner

7) Matt Feiler

So far this season, players listed as doubtful on the Steelers’ status report haven’t been active. If either of those players were to make it this week, I assume it would be Hilton. If somehow he’s able to play, that would put Marcus Allen back on the inactive list. I was very tempted to keep him on there and dress Matt Feiler, after he did such a great job last week, but I don’t know that the Steelers should leave themselves thin in the secondary.

Feel free to list your projected inactives in the comments below.