The Steelers ruled out 3 players on the Friday injury report in the form of LaMarr Woodley, Doug Legursky and Emmanuel Sanders, none of which were a huge surprise. It looks as if Hines Ward, James Harrison and Jason Worilds will all be active this week and play. Let\’s have a look at the injured players and predict the other remaining inactives this week as the Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night at Heinz Field. The official inactive list are released 90 minutes before kick-off and I will have them up on the site as soon as they are announced.
LB LaMarr Woodley – Woodley injured his hamstring last week against the Patriots in the 3rd quarter and did not return to the game. Although he towed the company line very nicely all week that he should not be ruled out, he eventually was on the Friday injury report. It is too early to really tell if he will miss the game against the Bengals next week, but my gut tells me he might be held out and return after the bye week. Hamstring injuries can linger, so the Steelers need to take it nice and slow with him.
WR Emmanuel Sanders – Sanders lost his mother early in the week unexpectedly and was back home with his family all week as he should be. He also suffered a knee injury last week against the Patriots and the extent of it is still unknown at this time. Sanders was ruled out on Friday and will not play this week. God bless him and his family during this trying time.
G Doug Legursky – Legursky is still hobbled by the dislocated toe injury that he suffered against the Jaguars back in week 6 and this will be the 3rd game in a row that he has missed. There has been no time table given on when he is expected back and it seems very likely it will be after the bye week before he returns. Trai Essex will once again back up Maurkice Pouncey at center this week.
LB James Farrior – Farrior suffered a calf injury against the Cardinals and it forced him to miss the game last week against the Patriots. Farrior was limited all week and practice and was listed as questionable on the injury report Friday. Word is trickling out that he will not play this week, so I expect him to be inactive. Larry Foote will once again start in his place inside.
NT Chris Hoke – Hoke has missed the last 2 weeks due to a neck injury caused by a stinger. He practiced fully this week, but Mark Kaboly told me on the Friday podcast that he is still having a few problems getting some feeling back in parts of his body. With Casey Hampton returning last week against the Patriots, I have a feeling they will hold Hoke out another week to be on the safe side.
T Jamon Meredith – With both Worilds and Harrison expected to play this week, I think Meredith will now go back to being inactive. He dressed the last 4 weeks mainly because the Steelers had plenty of players out with injuries and Merdith was merely a healthy body. There should be no need to dress 8 offensive linemen now, but this is far from a slam dunk.
QB Dennis Dixon – Dixon did not dress last week even with Ward out with an ankle injury so there is no reason it changes this week with Ward looking likely to return. Ward has served as the emergency quarterback this year with Dixon inactive so I assume Tomlin will still only dress two quarterbacks once again.
