Steelers decide to keep an extra inside linebacker active to help the defense vs. the Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released their inactives for their Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. With four players already ruled out due to injury, there were two players elevated from the practice squad on Saturday in order to help cover the loss. With seven players needed to fill out the list instead of five like the last two weeks, there are three healthy scratches. The Steelers full inactive list comes courtesy of Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Unlike last week, the Steelers don’t have any players carrying an injury status who were in doubt for Sunday’s game. With T.J. Watt being downgraded to out on Saturday, the Steelers have four players who will miss this game due to injury. With both Watt and Alex Highsmith out of the lineup at outside linebacker due to groin injuries, the Steelers elevated Derrek Tuszka from the practice squad. Still, the Steelers only have three players available at the position where Tuszka is expected to be backing up Melvin Ingram and Jamir Jones.

The other two players missing the game due to injury are defensive tackle Carlos Davis and wide receiver Diontae Johnson both with knee injuries. Davis missed last weeks game against the Raiders while Johnson was injured on the final play of the game. In order for the Steelers to have five wide receivers for Sunday, Cody White was elevated from the practice squad.

With Ben Roethlisberger battling a pectoral injury throughout the week, there was a chance Dwayne Haskins could have been active this week. But with Roethlisberger carrying no injury status and leading the Steelers offensive huddle, Haskins is inactive for the third straight week along with offensive lineman Rashaad Coward.

For the final spot on the inactive list, the Steelers have cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon who was inactive for the Steelers’ Week 1 matchup against the Bills. After getting a helmet last week due to the injury to Joe Haden, Witherspoon is back on the inactive list as the Steelers have decided to go with all six of their inside linebackers. So after dressing five inside linebackers each of the first two weeks of the season as Robert Spillane and Devin Bush each missed a week due to injury, Buddy Johnson still gets a helmet even though it was assumed he might be the odd man out at the position.

As for the Bengals inactives, they can be seen below.