The Steelers will be without Antonio Brown when they take on the Houston Texans today after he was ruled out earlier this week with a lower leg injury.
With Brown out of the lineup, other receivers will be called upon to step up, and they will be ready.
"We will have multiple guys trying to fill that spot," said Ben Roethlisberger. "We have guys that are excited, willing to try and fill those shoes. I think Justin (Hunter) is going to be one, Martavis (Bryant) will do some stuff, and JuJu (Smith-Schuster). Everyone really is going to have to step their game up, that includes me. I am going to have to be better."
With Brown out of the lineup Hunter is active and looking forward to the opportunity.
"It means me getting a helmet, being on the field," said Hunter. "You never know what is going to happen on game day. If the ball comes my way, I want to make a play.
"We have a lot of good guys. One man is down, means next is up. We have a lot of good guys to spread the ball around to. I feel like we can make things happen out there. We just have to hold it down and make sure everything is running smoothly."
The other starter the team will be missing is Ramon Foster, who missed practice on Thursday with a concussion, was limited on Friday, and did not practice on Saturday and is inactive. With Foster out, look for B.J. Finney to step up. Finney started at guard for Foster against Kansas City when he was injured, and Le'Veon Bell rushed for 179 yards against the Chiefs.
Also inactive is Coty Sensabaugh, who was added to the injury report on Friday with a shoulder injury and was limited in practice that day only. Sensabaugh was a full participant on Saturday, but is still out today.
The secondary is getting a boost though with the return of Joe Haden, playing in his first game since he fractured his fibula against the Colts on Nov. 12.
"I feel a lot better," said Haden. "I feel like I have had good days of practice. I am ready to go. I am for sure ready to play. I'm just excited to be back out there, making plays."
Also active is Vance McDonald and his return can do nothing but help the passing game.
"It helps whenever the team is as good as it is, but you want to be out there so bad and help contribute to the team success," said McDonald.
The other inactives include Joshua Dobbs, Jerald Hawkins, Vince Williams and J.J. Wilcox.
Here are the players who will be inactive when the Steelers take on the Texans.
Steelers Inactives
No. 5 QB Joshua Dobbs
No. 24 CB Coty Sensabaugh
No. 27 S J.J. Wilcox
No. 65 OT Jerald Hawkins
No. 73 G Ramon Foster
No. 84 WR Antonio Brown
No. 93 DT Daniel McCullers
Texans Inactives
No. 11 WR DeAndrew White
No. 39 S Ibraheim Campbell
No. 40 CB Marcus Williams
No. 53 OLB Gimbel President
No. 54 OLB LaTroy Lewis
No. 63 OT Kendall Lamm
No. 79 G Jeff Allen
