The Steelers go into today's game against the Cincinnati Bengals close to full strength, but not quite.
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is inactive for the third consecutive game, ruled out on Friday with an ankle injury.
Highsmith was hoping to return this week with another critical AFC North matchup, but his return will have to wait at least another week.
With Highsmith out, teams have been scheming more to try and take fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt out of the mix, focusing more on Watt without Highsmith on the other side.
"I'm trying to do whatever I can to help the team win games," said Watt. "It seems like there's a lot of schematics being thrown my way this year. We're trying to figure out how to combat it week in and week out. Those guys opposite of me have done a great job. Everybody up front has done a great job of continuing to find ways to create pressure, even in the games that I'm not able to.
"If we're winning and we're taking care of business and guys are getting after the quarterback, I have no frustration. Obviously, I would like to play a part in it and I'm trying to do my best to navigate that. But like I said, when you throw that many schematics, it's not always easy to continually make plays, play in and play out like it has been.
"More than anything, I'm just ready to get this loss taste out of our mouths and move forward."
In addition to Highsmith, receiver Scotty Miller, running back Jonathan Ward, and guard Max Scharping are inactive, and Kyle Allen is the third quarterback.
The full list of inactives for both teams is below.
Steelers Inactives
No. 4 QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
No. 13 WR Scotty Miller
No. 35 RB Jonathan Ward
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 64 OG Max Scharping
Bengals Inactives
No. 15 WR Charlie Jones
No. 16 WR Trenton Irwin
No. 55 LB Logan Wilson
No. 84 TE Tanner McLachlan
No. 98 DT Sheldon Rankins
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