The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into Wild Card Weekend of the 2024 NFL postseason after dropping their final four games. With seventeen inactive lists down for the season, one would think it would be much easier to predict who would not get a helmet. But with the Steelers having no players ruled out, it’s not that easy.

The rules in the 2024 season when it comes to the players active on game day have been carried over from the last four seasons with one additional caveat introduced last year. As long as a team has eight offensive linemen who will be dressing for the game, they could have 48 players on their active roster rather than the 46 in past years. If the Steelers elevate any players from their practice squad, their inactive list would increase by the same number of players. The one change since last season is one quarterback on the inactive list can be designated as the “third quarterback” and will be in uniform, but they can only enter if the other two quarterbacks are injured. The player must be on the 53-man roster and will be designated when the inactive list is released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Playing on Saturday, the Steelers have until 4 PM Friday to make any roster moves or practice squad elevations.

Game Status

OUT:

*WR Roman Wilson (hamstring)
**LB Cole Holcomb (knee)
*DT Logan Lee (calf)

QUESTIONABLE:

G Mason McCormick (hand)
*OT Calvin Anderson (groin)

*In designated 21-day window to return from Reserved/Injured List
**In designated 21-day window to return from Reserved/PUP List

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for the Steelers against the Ravens on Saturday:

Definitely:

None– With no players on the 53 ruled out, it’s all speculation for the postseason.

Most Likely:

QB Kyle Allen– This is pretty much the only guaranteed name that will be on the list.

DT Dean Lowry– Of all the other possibilities, Lowry has been the one as of late who has been inactive, hence why he’s in this category.

Possibly:

G Mason McCormick– He’s questionable for the game with a broken hand. It’s at least possible McCormick will be on the list. For me, I think it’s more likely he’s a backup rather than starter if it’s close.

OT Calvin Anderson– He’s not on the 53-man roster right now, but the fact the Steelers have already cleared a spot for him would have me surprised for Anderson to not be added. If he is, then an offensive lineman has to go on the inactive list. And it could still be Anderson if McCormick is fine come game time.

OL Max Scharping– If Calvin Anderson gets put back on the roster and Mason McCormick at least dresses, the other option to be inactive is Scharping. It really could go either way for any of these three linemen.

CB Cory Trice– Even though he started last week, he was the player who was inactive whenever Donte Jackson or Joey Porter Jr. weren’t available. I don’t think he should go back on the list, but there’s at least a possibility.

CB James Pierre– If it’s not Trice it has to be someone, unless the Steelers squeeze a helmet out from another position. Even though he’s key on special teams, Pierre could be the other option to not dress.

LB Preston Smith– He was inactive two games ago because the Steelers couldn’t find a helmet elsewhere. They’re in a similar situation again this week so it makes Smith a possibility.

LB Jeremiah Moon– Last game the Steelers managed to have all five outside linebackers active with only four defensive linemen. It also helped where Smith filled in some on the DL. But if they can’t do that again, it could be Moon who is left out.

DT Isaiahh Loudermilk– Last week it was Preston Smith over Loudermilk. Granted the Bengals were a big passing team while the Ravens are a big running team, it’s still possible the Steelers skimp on the DL again.

TE MyCole Pruitt– After missing practice Thursday I thought Pruitt might be ruled out for this game. Do the Steelers really need a reserve tight end so much more than other places? I’m putting it out there that it could be someone from the offense who has to surrender a helmet.

Unlikely:

Who knows– At this point, the Steelers could still pull another name to have inactive that would be a surprise. I can’t list everybody.

Projected Inactive List:

1. Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
2. Dean Lowry
3. Calvin Anderson
4. James Pierre
5. MyCole Pruitt

This might be one of the most difficult inactive lists I’ve had to come up with, even more so than Week 1 when there is no precedence set. The only sure thing is Kyle Allen being the third quarterback. Dean Lowry is probably the easiest to bet simply because he’s been on the list enough when there hasn’t been injuries. After that, it gets really sketchy.

I’m assuming the Steelers cleared the roster spot for Calvin Anderson. I’m also hopeful that Mason McCormick will be able to play, and the Steelers might want to have another player who is more position flexible in Max Scharping as their reserve. Therefore Calvin Anderson is inactive despite coming back on the roster. It may not play out this way, but it’s the way I would like it to be.

The final two spots are really tough. At first I put Isaiahh Lowdermilk in order to try to get all the cornerbacks a helmet. But going up against the top rushing offense in the NFL, I don’t think it’s a game where the Steelers skimp on the defensive line, despite Preston Smith filling in there last week. But I also really want to get Smith a helmet. It makes for a very tough scenario.

This is why I went with James Pierre and MyCole Pruitt. I know Pierre is a core guy on special teams, but I just don’t know where else to go. Instead of Pierre it could be Jeremiah Moon. Bottom line is, it should be down to those two players with their special teams contributions being the key. If the Steelers decide to have both of them, they have put so much emphasis on special teams that they could leave themselves short in other places.

I also went with MyCole Pruitt. He just doesn’t bring enough to constantly have a helmet. Do the Steelers need four tight ends? Do they run four tight end sets? For this reason, I don’t think it’s a luxury the Steelers should worry about. Out of the tight ends, Darnell Washington brings way more to the table and Connor Heyward brings too much to special teams to have Pruitt active for 10 or 11 snaps and no targets, which is what he has done the last two games. Yes, Pruitt had a touchdown in the last game against the Ravens, but it was just the one catch for one yard, and he was injured and missed the game in their first matchup. I don’t think it would be a huge loss to not have him active.

I must admit at this most likely will not be the inactive list. To me, it’s the inactive list that the Steelers should go with, with the exception of perhaps Jeremiah Moon instead of James Pierre. Of course the offensive line could be any of those three players, but, as long as Anderson is the player that comes on the 53, it’s got to be someone from that position group.

As always, feel free to list your projected inactives in the comments below.