The Pittsburgh Steelers are now less than 90 minutes away from kickoff in their second and final Thursday night game of the season. Coming off an extremely disappointing loss just five days ago, the Steelers are looking to get back on the winning track before they have nine days off.

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 earlier today and having 53 players on the roster, they have six inactives as the Patriots 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 first time this season, the Steelers have not used this option.

Here are the six players inactive for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 14 matchup against the Patriots according to Steelers.com.

Steelers Inactives

No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
No. 44 LB Markus Golden
No. 42 CB James Pierre
No. 60 T Dylan Cook
No. 98 DeMarvin Leal

For the first time this season, Mason Rudolph is not on the list as he is the backup quarterback. Instead, Kenny Pickett will miss the game due to his ankle injury. Joining Pickett on the list is the typical offensive lineman position. With both Mason Cole and Isaac Seumalo questionable for the game, Dylan Cook had the opportunity to get a helmet for the game based on their availability. But the player on the inactive list is Cook with both Cole and Seumalo active.

Another player ruled out yesterday was cornerback James Pierre with a shoulder injury. With Pierre inactive, cornerback Darius Rush gets a helmet.

With the return on Montravius Adams on the defensive line, the Steelers were going to have another player who had been active for the last several weeks go onto the inactive list. For Week 14, it’s DeMarvin Leal who is inactive for the Steelers.

The last two players on the inactive list for the Steelers in Week 13 are running back Anthony McFarland and linebacker Markus Golden. McFarland was active for two games after he returned from the Reserve/Injured List, but two weeks ago, Igwebuike got the helmet after being inactive the previous two weeks. With Najee Harris suiting up despite being questionable, it is McFarland who is inactive again. As for Markus Golden, it is quite surprising to see him inactive as the Steelers will play this game with only three outside linebackers.

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

Patriots Inactives

No. 1 WR DeVante Parker
No. 26 CB Shaun Wade
No. 38 RB Rhamondre Stevenson
No. 39 RB Jamycal Hasty
No. 59 T Vederian Lowe
No. 80 WR Kayshon Boutte
No. 81 WR Demario Douglas