Chris Bowell, Steven Nelson inactive for Week 13 against Washington

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released their inactives for their Week 13 game against the Washington Football Team. There were no players ruled out due to injury prior to the game, but the two players listed as doubtful has little chance of playing. Because the number of players who were elevated off of the practice squad this week brought the roster to 54 players, the list is made up of 6 players with two being due to injury and four as healthy scratches.

Most importantly, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is active for the Steelers and will play against Washington in Week 13. Roethlisberger was listed as questionable coming into the game due to not practicing on such a short week, but there was little doubt he would miss the game. Since Roethisberger is active, Josh Dobbs is inactive again for the twelfth straight game.

The two players who were expected to be on the inactive list since they were classified as doubtful were cornerback Steven Nelson and kicker Chris Boswell. Nelson finished Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens but had an MRI following the game and was not able to practice leading up to Week 13. As for Boswell, his injury popped up on the injury report Saturday with a hip and was downgraded to doubtful on Sunday. Kicker Matthew Wright was elevated from the practice squad in order to fulfill the kicking duties against Washington.

Two other players on the Steelers inactive list are tight end Kevin Rader and defensive lineman Carlos Davis. The Steelers have not dressed more than two tight ends this season, so Rader has been kept on the 53 man roster as insurance after the injury to Zach Gentry. As for the defensive line, the Steelers are already dressing an extra player than they typically do as they are carrying seven at the position. Therefore, Davis was the odd man out in Week 13.

The final player on the inactive list is offensive lineman Derwin Gray. With Jerald Hawkins coming off the Reserve/COVID-19 List just hours before kickoff and the elevation of Anthony Coyle from the practice squad, Gray ends up being the final player not getting a helmet for the game.

As for Washington’s inactives, they can be seen below courtesy of ESPN’s John Keim.