The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the thirteenth week of the 2024 regular season after a mini bye before heading to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. With eleven inactive lists down for the season, it should now be slightly easier to predict, but injuries are still the biggest driving force. For Week 13, the Steelers have two players ruled out, both of which are not on the 53-man roster and not on the Reserve/Injured List, with one other being listed as doubtful.

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)
*CB Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring)

*Not on the 53-man roster

DOUBTFUL:

LB Alex Highsmith (ankle)

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for the Steelers against the Bengals 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 in Cincinnati.

LB Alex Highsmith– It’s been a long time since a player who was doubtful going into the game for the Steelers has played. So unless Highsmith gets upgraded on Saturday, he’s probably not playing.

G Max Scharpling– Just like with Kyle Allen, when Scharpling is inactive it means all the offensive linemen are healthy. This group needs some continuity as they still have plenty of room for improvement.

RB Jonathan Ward– He was added as a fourth running back two weeks ago just in case and was inactive in both games since. There is little doubt he would be inactive this week as long as he’s still on the roster.

Possibly:

WR Scotty Miller– He’s the only potential healthy scratch who has been active since the bye week, so he gets the possibly designation even tough he’s likely to be inactive as well.

RB Jeremiah Moon– When Alex Highsmith is healthy, Moon would be the fifth outside linebacker and the player who would likely be the first one to lose a helmet. But first Highsmith has to be healthy.

Unlikely:

DT Montravius Adams & CB Cory Trice Jr.– They have been ruled out, so bringing them back on the 53-man roster when there is still time left in their respective 21-day windows would be unwise.

Projected Inactive List:

1. Kyle Allen+
2. Alex Highsmith
3. Max Scharpling
4. Jonathan Ward
5. Scotty Miller

+3rd quarterback and will dress

Even though Alex Highsmith could get upgraded to questionable later today, it’s more likely he would be downgraded to out. I don’t have much faith in him playing this week. With that, I think we’re looking at the exact same inactive list this week as it was last week.

With the Steelers not bringing back Cory Trice or Montravius Adams from IR, there isn’t much to question. I don’t see the Steelers making a roster move or promoting any players from the practice squad this week. If so, I don’t know what direction they would go with their inactive list. So I’m going with the five players listed above until I have a reason to question it otherwise.

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