The Steelers inactive list today doesn't come as a surprise, with three players who were already ruled out on Friday on the list due to injuries.
Receiver George Pickens, safety DeShon Elliott and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi are all inactive today. Pickens is missing his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury, while Elliott is also dealing with a hamstring injury and Ogunjobi a groin injury.
With Pickens out, it's up to the other receivers to step to the plate this week.
"We just have to continue to do what we have been doing," said Calvin Austin III. "Play football. Play for each other. All the values that Coach T instilled in us and just stay true to the values and the standards that we hold for ourselves."
The Steelers were without Pickens last week when they defeated the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium and have confidence in the unit as a whole.
"It's going to be the coaches putting us in the best position, and us taking advantage of the position that we are put in," said Austin. "Everybody in the receiver room has a different skill set, different strengths, and the coaching staff knows that and knows how to put us in position to show that."
Coach Mike Tomlin preaches the strength of the pack, is the pack. But at the same time, you have to do your part as part of the pack.
"Coach T says you can't hide in groups, so it is going to take the pack," said Austin. "But we've been like this since training camp, sticking together. But it's going to take individuals making sure they're honed in on their assignment. And at the end of the day, just make plays because that's the name of the game, players making plays."
Elliott's absence leaves a hole in the defense, especially his presence in the run defense.
"It's next man up," said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. "We predicate ourselves as a defense that prides ourselves on smashing the run, so when one of our top run defenders is out, we've got to do that."
Without Elliott, the Steelers still have plenty of depth in Cameron Sutton and Damontae Kazee, who are both proven veterans.
"All the guys we have in our secondary, we've played a lot of ball together," said Fitzpatrick. "When a guy does go down, it's comforting to know we played a lot of ball with the next man up. There's not a lot of communication or lack of trust there."
With Ogunjobi out, the Steelers activated fellow defensive lineman Montravius Adams from the Reserve/Injured (Designated for Return) List.
Adams was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Oct. 22 with a knee injury. He appeared in seven games before his injury, recording eight tackles, five of them solo stops, and one sack.
For his career, Adams has played in 92 games with 24 starts. He has 117 career tackles, 57 of them solo stops, and two and a half sacks.
Adams was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Packers before signing with the New England Patriots in 2021. He also spent part of the 2021 season with the New Orleans Saints, before the Steelers claimed him off their practice squad.
In addition, cornerback Cory Trice Jr. is inactive and Kyle Allen is the third quarterback.
The full list of inactives is below.
Steelers Inactives
No. 4 QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
No. 14 WR George Pickens
No. 25 S DeShon Elliott
No. 27 DB Cory Trice Jr.
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi
Eagles Inactives
No. 16 QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB)
No. 18 WR Britain Convey
No. 23 CB Eli Ricks
No. 61 OL Nick Gates
No. 72 T Darian Kinnard
No. 79 G Trevor Keegan
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