The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the fourth week of the 2024 regular season and are heading one the road once again. With three inactive lists down for the season, it is now slightly easier to predict outside of the injuries. For Week 4, the Steelers have thre players ruled out, one player listed as doubtful, and one more 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 today to make any roster moves or practice squad elevations. If there is any roster move done later today, an update will be added.

Game Status

OUT:

OLB Alex Highsmith (groin)
RB Jaylen Warren (knee)
TE MyCole Pruitt (ankle)

DOUBTFUL:

OG Isaac Seumalo (pectoral)

QUESTIONABLE:

QB Russell Wilson (calf)

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

Definitely:

OLB Alex Highsmith– It was a good sign Highsmith did not land on the Reserve/Injured List (IR) earlier in the week. But the week is not over yet so it is still possible.

RB Jaylen Warren– It felt as if Warren was going to at least practice on a limited basis this week, but that never came to fruition.

TE MyCole Pruitt– Since he was ruled out on Tuesday, it’s no surprise Pruitt misses his second week in a row.

Most Likely:

OG Isaac Seumalo– I could not tell you when the last time was the Steelers had someone with a doubtful designation active on game day. It’s been longer than I’ve been doing this job.

QB Russell Wilson– I think it’s status quote for Wilson from this point on until he is more than a limited participant in practice. He should be the third quarterback again.

Possibly:

S Jalen Elliott– I was surprised he got a helmet last week, but that does not mean he will be in the Steelers game plan this week.

DT Dean Lowry– The Steelers carried an extra defensive lineman last week based on the Chargers dynamic running attack and a limited mobility quarterback. I don’t know if they could pull it off again this week. Will Lowry be the one that goes back to the bench?

DT Isaiahh Loudermilk– I keep saying if Lowry is going to be active, it would be Loudermilk who is inactive. But with DeMarvin Leal having to fill-in at OLB, he might not count in the numbers at all for defensive line.

S Terrell Edmunds– Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin says it’s almost time to see Edmunds. Once he gets off the inactive list, he probably won’t come back on.

WR Roman Wilson– With no injury designation last week I thought Wilson would be active, but they went with only four wide receivers instead. They could do it again this week if they choose.

Unlikely:

QB Kyle Allen– As I said above, I feel that Russell Wilson will stay as the third quarterback until we see a change in his participation. This keeps Kyle Allen off the list.

CB Darius Rush– After being inactive the first two weeks of the season, Rush was out last game as a healthy scratch. But the Steelers are down a cornerback in Cory Trice so it makes sense for Rush to be back to being active.

OT Calvin Anderson– If Seumalo has a helmet, this particular Andeson will not. But that’s a big if.

Projected Inactive List:

1. Russell Wilson+
2. Alex Highsmith
3. Jaylen Warren
4. MyCole Pruitt
5. Isaac Seumalo
6. Jalen Elliott*
7. Dean Lowry*

+3rd quarterback and will dress

These top five picks are easy. Three players have been ruled out, Russell Wilson is going to be the third quarterback again, and a doubtful designation keeps Seumalo on the sidelines. It is possible that Seumalo could dress but not start which would put new offensive tackle Calvin Anderson on the inactive list. While it is possible, I don’t see that happening.

I’m assuming the Steelers will elevate two players from the practice squad. My guess is they’ll bring another running back up as well as an outside linebacker just to have some more depth. If I had to take a shot in the dark, it would be Adetokunbo Ogundeji for the linebacker and Jonathan Ward as the running back. But it could be any of the players available.

If the Steelers simply elevate two players from the practice squad and don’t make any other adjustments to the 53-man roster, then those last two spots get real tricky. I’m having Edmunds active this week and putting Jalen Elliott back on the inactive list. The last spot is a tossup between a defensive lineman or the Steelers decide to keep Roman Wilson on the sidelines yet again. While part of me feels that the Steelers still won’t have Roman Wilson active, I’m going with the defensive lineman just because I can. But deciding who would be the other spot may not matter if the Steelers decide to skimp and not elevate both a running back and outside linebacker.

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