The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced their final roster moves out of their Week 12 matchup against the Bengals in Cincinnati at 1 PM on Sunday. With the roster being filled out at this time, the Steelers have elevated linebacker Tariq Carpenter from the practice squad.

We have elevated LB Tariq Carpenter to the Active/Inactive roster from the practice squad. @BordasLaw https://t.co/VBqmGly3d7

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 25, 2023

A seventh-round draft pick of the 2022 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, Tariq Carpenter came into the NFL as a safety. Appearing in 14 games where he had eight tackles, Carpenter only played 16 defensive snaps his rookie season with the Packers but logged 122 snaps on special teams. Transitioning to linebacker but failing to make the Packers 53-man roster this season, Carpenter has been on the Steelers practice squad as one of the original 16 players signed prior to Week 1. Elevated in Week 10 and Week 11, Carpenter did not see any snaps on defense but did play 10 special teams snaps where he had one tackle in Week 10 and 11 snaps in Week 11.

This is the third elevation of 2023 for Carpenter, meaning if the Steelers wish to use him on game day again it will have to come in the form of signing him to 53-man roster. With the elevation of Campbell, there’s a good chance newly signed linebacker Blake Martinez who joined the Steelers on Wednesday will be inactive as he gets up to speed on Pittsburgh’s defense.

It is interesting the Steelers did not elevate a safety as they only have four safeties on the roster, one of which is Minkah Fitzpatrick who was ruled out for the game. The Steelers only options on the practice squad were Jalen Elliot and Eric Rowe. Elliot has only been with the Steelers since the very end of October and Rowe was signed by the Steelers on Monday. With only three safeties in uniform, Patrick Peterson could play a role in covering at that position.

Stay tuned to Steel Curtain Network’s continued coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepare to face the Bengals on Sunday in Cincinnati.