The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 18th and final week of the 2023 needing a win and some help to get into the postseason. In a game where there Steelers have everything to play for while the Ravens have absolutely nothing, anything can happen when it comes to AFC North football.

The rules in the 2023 season when it comes to the players active on game day have been carried over from the last three seasons with one additional caveat. 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 this 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.

With the Steelers having until 4 PM Friday to make any roster moves or practice squad elevations, the exact number for the list is subject to change. While there is almost a guarantee of two elevations from the practice squad unless they are moved to the 53-man roster, the Steelers are definitely going to be making moves. Because of these potential moves, they will ultimately determine the number of players who will be inactive.

Game Status

QUESTIONABLE:

S Trenton Thompson (neck)
S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee)
LB Elandon Roberts (pec)

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

Definitely:

None– It’s been a while since the Steelers haven’t had any players ruled out.

Most Likely:

OT Dylan Cook– Same story, final week.

CB Darius Rush– He’s only been used when cornerbacks have been injured and all are available for the Steelers.

QB Mitch Trubisky– The Steelers say Kenny Pickett will be the number two this week, so Trubisky lands on the list but will still be in uniform.

Possibly:

S Trenton Thompson– He’s missed the last two games, and would now be in a spot where others could have passed him on the depth chart.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick– is Minkah healthy enough to come in and play? We’ve been wondering for a while.

LB Elandon Roberts– He says he’s playing, but the Steelers still have him is questionable.

LB Blake Martinez– If Elandon Roberts goes, Martinez goes back to the inactive list.

DL DeMarvin Leal– He’s now been an active three the last four games, so there is starting to be a pattern that emerges.

DL Isaiahh Loudermilk– Being the one other player that was inactive mixed in there along with Leal, it’s still a possibility it could be Loudermilk.

Unlikely:

QB Kenny Pickett– After everything that happened this week and the “controversy” that went on, there’s no way Pickett is inactive.

Projected Inactive List:

1. Mitch Trubisky (3rd QB)
2. Dylan Cook
3. Darius Rush
4. Blake Martinez
5. DeMarvin Leal
6. Trenton Thompson*

The top three are obvious this week. I don’t think there’s going to be any surprise with the quarterback position. Dylan Cook and Darius Rush have their roles to be available if needed but it just hasn’t happened.

The fourth spot on the list all comes down to whether it’s Elandon Roberts or Blake Martinez. I’m believing Roberts that he said he’s going to play so that’s why I have Martinez.

The fifth spot is all about which defensive lineman is inactive. With Baltimore and their running attack, I think the Steelers stick with Loudermilk being available and Leal not having a helmet. It’s not certain, but it’s the safer bet.

Now comes the very tricky part. I fully expect the Steelers to have both Eric Rowe and Myles Jack brought up from the practice squad for Week 18. It’s their last elevation and they’ve both played well. The problem is who doesn’t get a helmet. I think the safest bet is Trenton Thompson. If the Steelers got both safeties back and were going to have them play, there would be no need for Eric Rowe. I think the safer bet is to have Rowe and not Thompson since he was only limited all week. I’m also going with Minkah Fitzpatrick playing. This is my problem now. I don’t know who to have as a seventh person inactive if the Steelers elevate two players and Fitzpatrick plays. Is it possible the Steelers don’t use Eric Rowe? It could be. Would this put Patrick Peterson back to cornerback and the Steelers have someone else they don’t need there? I don’t see it being James Pierre because of special teams. Could it be someone like Tyron Johnson who has only played special teams for weeks on end? It could be, but I don’t know that the Steelers have enough special team players back in order to not utilize him and need him for those plays. Do the Steelers still need four tight ends? But with Heyward and Williams playing so much special teams, can they afford not to have them? I honestly don’t know what direction they will go. This is why I’m only listing six players because I’m stumped on this one.

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