The Pittsburgh Steelers are now less than 90 minutes away from kickoff in the first of their back-to-back Saturday games. Coming off two extremely disappointing losses in five days, the Steelers are looking to get back on the winning track entering the final quarter of the 2023 season.

As is always the case, 90 minutes before kickoff is when teams must announce their inactive list for the upcoming game. With 48 players active for each team, the number of players on the inactive list depends on if a team makes any practice squad elevations. With the Steelers elevating one practice squad player yesterday and having 53 players on the roster, they have six inactives as the Colts have seven players on their inactive list.

New to the 2023 season is a modified return of the “third quarterback rule.” Every NFL team who has a third quarterback on their 53-man roster will include him on their inactive list, but he is designated as a third quarterback and is therefore in uniform in case of injury to the two players ahead of him on the depth chart. But if one of the players is deemed healthy enough to return, the third quarterback goes back to their role on the sideline. For the second time this season, the Steelers have not used this option.

Here are the six players inactive for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 15 matchup against the Colts according to Steelers.com.

Steelers Inactives

No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett
No. 21 CB Darius Rush
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland
No. 40 LB Blake Martinez
No. 60 T Dylan Cook
No. 92 DE Isaiahh Loudermilk

For the second time this season, Mason Rudolph is not on the list as he is the backup quarterback. Instead, Kenny Pickett will miss his second-straight game due to his ankle injury. Joining Pickett on the list is the typical offensive lineman position. With Isaac Seumalo questionable for the game, Dylan Cook had the opportunity to get a helmet based on Seumalo’s availability. But the player on the inactive list is Cook with Seumalo active despite not practicing all week.

A player who missed last week’s game due to injury was cornerback James Pierre. This week Pierre is back so cornerback Darius Rush heads back to the inactive list.

With the return on Montravius Adams on the defensive line last week, the Steelers went with DeMarvin Leal on the inactive list. For Week 15, it’s Isaiahh Loudermilk who is inactive for the Steelers.

The last two players on the inactive list for the Steelers in Week 15 are running back Anthony McFarland and linebacker Blake Martinez. McFarland was active for two games after he returned from the Reserve/Injured List, but Godwin Igwebuike has taken his spot as the primary kick returner. As for Blake Martinez, he is the player who doesn’t get a helmet due to the elevation of Kyron Johsnon for special teams purposes. Last week, it was quite surprising to see Markus Golden inactive as the Steelers were thin at outside linebacker and almost paid the price when both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith missed time although they did not overlap. This week Golden is back to being active but Martinez is the odd man out.

As for the Colts inactive list, it can be seen below courtesy of Steelers.com.

Colts Inactives

No. 6 WR Isaiah McKenzie
No. 28 RB Jonathan Taylor
No. 38 CB Tony Brown
No. 50 LB Segun Olubi
No. 55 DE Isaiah Land
No. 72 T Braden Smith
No. 95 DT Adetomiwa Adebawore