The Pittsburgh Steelers game day inactive list was hardly a question, except for one player. Wide receiver Sammie Coates has been dealing with two injuries to his hand. A laceration which required stitches at halftime of the Week 5 game against the New York Jets, as well as a fracture to the same finger.
Coates was held out of practice all week, but finally got back on the field Friday in hopes of not just dressing, but playing in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers promoted wide receiver Cobi Hamilton from their practice squad, in case Coates was unable to play, but as the team released their inactive list prior to the game, Coates wasn't on it...meaning he will be in the lineup.
Inactive for @Steelers: WR Wheaton, S SThomas, LB Shazier, C Wallace, T Gilbert, DE Heyward, QB Mettenberger
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) October 16, 2016
The question now falls to how Coates will play with the injuries to his hand. Will he just be used on the deep routes, to take the top off the defense and provide space for Antonio Brown and Eli Rogers? Or will the team deploy him for his entire route tree, including routes over the middle where contact to the injured hand is likely?
Only time will tell, but the Steelers offense could use another big game from their second year receiver from Auburn as they look to advance their record to 5-1 before heading back to Pittsburgh for Week 7.
Complete list of Steelers inactives:
WR Markus Wheaton
ILB Ryan Shazier
C/G Cody Wallace
OT Marcus Gilbert
DE Cameron Heyward
QB Zach Mettenberger
Below is the inactive list for the Miami Dolphins:
Today's inactives: pic.twitter.com/n6Tk9cNemO
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 16, 2016