The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the fourteenth week of the 2024 regular season after their first AFC North win in Cincinnati where they are hosting the Browns. With twelve inactive lists down for the season, it should now be slightly easier to predict, but injuries still are a large driving force. For Week 13, the Steelers have one player ruled out who is not on the 53-man roster but on the Reserve/Injured List, with one other being listed as questionable.

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

Game Status

OUT:

*DT Montravius Adams (knee)

*Not on the 53-man roster

QUESTIONABLE:

WR George Pickens (hamstring)

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for the Steelers against the Browns on Sunday:

Definitely:

None– With no players ruled out who are on the 53-man roster unless there is a change Saturday, there are no players in this category.

Most Likely:

QB Kyle Allen– Things are still going well when Allen is the 3rd quarterback, which he will be against the Browns.

G Max Scharpling– Just like with Kyle Allen, when Scharpling is inactive it means all the offensive linemen are healthy.

Possibly:

WR George Pickens– He’s listed as questionable for now, so we have to believe there’s a chance Pickens doesn’t play. I also wouldn’t be shocked if his status changes on Saturday. Hopefully it’s in the right direction.

WR Scotty Miller– It all comes down to George Pickens for Scotty Miller as he gets a helmet if Pickens can’t go. Otherwise he’s inactive.

LB Jeremiah Moon– With Alex Highsmith back, can the Steelers afford to have five outside linebackers dressed? It’s hard to find a spot somewhere else.

CB Cory Trice– He could have been activated for the last few games, but the Steelers didn’t have a helmet for Trice anyway. It’s still going to be hard to find him one now that he’s back on the 53-man roster.

CB James Pierre– The most likely cornerback that Trice could grab a helmet from would be James Pierre, but as the gunner on the special team’s unit it would be hard to knock him out of the game-day lineup.

LB Mark Robinson or Tyler Matakevich– I grouped these two players together because it would be a coin flip between them if one of them didn’t get a helmet. It’s all about if the Steelers would like a fifth outside linebacker who plays special teams, or a fifth inside linebacker who does the same thing.

Unlikely:

LB Preston Smith– While he could get the Markus Golden treatment from last season where the Steelers didn’t have room at time for edge help without playing special teams, I don’t think this Steelers would choose Moon over Smith to be active just for that reason.

Projected Inactive List:

1. Kyle Allen+
2. Max Scharpling
3. Scotty Miller
4. Jeremiah Moon
5. Cory Trice

+3rd quarterback and will dress

This is now getting tricky with the Steelers having healthy players. Once again, I don’t think they’ll be any roster moves or practice squad elevations. The first two names of the list are easy, and the third name is pretty simple as long as George Pickens is able to play. I’m going to be optimistic about Pickens, hence why Scotty Miller I have inactive yet again.

The next two players are where things get really tricky. I’m thinking the Steelers have to have Moon inactive with Highsmith coming back even though he does play special teams. There simply aren’t enough helmets, and I think the Steelers would give the special teams nod to Robinson and Matakevich.

The last spot is where I’ll probably catch some flack. The reason the Steelers hadn’t brought Cory Trice back already is because it’s a tough decision as to who he would replace as active on game day. I don’t think the Steelers are ready to throw him back in there as a key special team’s guy unless they have to, so I think Trice is the odd man out until an injury separates things otherwise.

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