The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Saturday of Week 15 of the regular season, and like they’ve done so many times this season, they made a roster move ahead of the game.

Despite the Steelers having all their defensive players healthy and available, the Steelers have once again promoted Kyron Johnson to the Active/Inactive roster from the practice squad as their only move.

We have elevated LB Kyron Johnson to the Active/Inactive roster from the practice squad. @BordasLaw https://t.co/D5dhYKJClc

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 15, 2023

This is the third-straight game the Steelers have elevated Johnson. While Johnson has been elevated for Saturday’s game against the Colts, he will revert back to the practice squad after the game. Johnson was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 10. For the last two weeks, Johnson did not play any snaps on defense but did have 33 snaps on special teams.

This is the third elevation for Johnson this season and the final time he is eligible to be brought up from the practice squad only to return following the game without having to pass through waivers. If Johnson is to be used again, he will need to be added to the 53-man roster.

The move to elevate Johnson this week is very curious in my opinion. Last week the Steelers had key defensive contributors in DeMarvin Leal and Markus Golden inactive in order for Johnson to get a helmet. As both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith dealt with injury, the Steelers did not have Markus Golden to play a key role in the rotation and outside linebacker and, once Highsmith was ruled out, had to play T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig every snap.

With the Steelers not trusting Johnson to put him on the field on defense, he did play 20 special team snaps last week but still has yet to contribute with a tackle. If the elevation of Johnson comes at the cost of Golden being available, I don’t see the logic in the Steelers reasoning outside of simply not having enough players to play on special teams as Markus Golden has only played seven special team snaps this season for the Steelers. But is this elevation worth it if the Steelers have issues once again at outside linebacker?

The Steelers got by last week with having Golden inactive and it almost cost them greatly. If the Steelers are looking to test the same theory again, they may not be as fortunate. Or perhaps the Steelers have another move in mind when it comes to the inactive list for Saturday’s game that doesn’t include a key depth piece at a significant defensive position where players are often used in a rotation.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they face the Colts on Saturday at 4:30 PM in Indianapolis.