We are down to 53 players on the Steelers active roster after the cuts made this afternoon and assuming the Steelers do not make any other add and drops from the waiver wire, I thought it would be fun to take a real early look at who likely will not dress week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday. The Steelers will have 8 inactive players as they are only allowed to play 45 players on any given game day. Fresh off of my 53 for 53 roster prediction, I will push my luck and layout the 8 inactives and reasons below.
QB Byron Leftwich – This should be pretty obvious concerning his MCL injury. He will likely get the #3 emergency QB tag, but do not read too much into that. He is out plain and simple.
RB Jonathan Dwyer – He can run with the ball, but that is it. He has a long way to go before he sees the active gameday roster. Barring injuries, expect to see him here all season unless released for a roster spot.
CB Crezdon Butler – Butler is a rookie and the numbers at corner makes him the odd man out on gameday. I certainly would not be surprised to see him off of the inactive list by midseason. Especially the more practice and special teams work he gets under his belt. Great corner late in the draft. A true ball hawker.
WR Emmanuel Sanders – It looks like Antonio Brown won the return job, so he will be the 5th game day receiver, because of it. Sanders will not be stuck here all season long as he is too talented.
T Tony Hills – This could go either way between him and Jonathan Scott. Scott backed up Flozell Adams all preseason at right tackle and Ramon Foster can swing the left side at both guard or tackle in a pinch. Scott tweaked his ankle in the final preseeason game so this could just as easy be him in this spot. We are going to assume he is healthy enough to play week 1.
OLB Jason Worilds – Lots of learning to do and quite a few linebackers ahead of him. He will get active later in the year. Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons will back up James Harrison at the right outside spot in case of injury to start the season.
ILB Stevenson Sylvester – Same situation as Worilds. Too many bodies right now. Any injury to an inside linebacker and Sly will be up.
OLB Thaddeus Gibson – Another young linebacker that must pay his dues for a little while.
