The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns Sunday and here is what the inactive list will most likely look like when it is released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
4 of the 7 names on the list this week will be inactive this week because those players were ruled out for the game due to injuries on the Friday injury report. 2 of the 3 remaining names were also on the injury report with one being listed as doubtful and the other being listed as questionable. and 1 more on the list was listed as questionable.
Troy Polamalu – Polamalu was scheduled to run on Wednesday, but did not practice until Friday, and even that was on a limited basis. The Steelers safety was listed as doubtful on Friday and thus will miss his 7th straight game on Sunday with a calf injury. It is way too early to speculate if he will be ready to play next week against the Baltimore Ravens. He remains week-to-week right now.
Ben Roethlisberger – Roethlisberger became a father for the first time on Wednesday and ditched his sling this past week as well. He will miss his second straight game on Sunday with a dislocated rib and SC shoulder sprain suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs, and like Polamalu, it is way too early to tell if he will be ready to return next week against the Ravens.
Byron Leftwich – Leftwich suffered two fractured ribs in the loss to the Ravens last week and will be sidelined indefinitely as a result. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that the injury was not viewed as a season-ending one in his eyes, but speculation on our part is that he will be sidelined at least a few weeks, if not longer.
Jerricho Cotchery – The veteran wide receiver is out indefinitely with multiple rib fractures suffered late in the loss last week to the Ravens. The Steelers signed Plaxico Burress on Tuesday so Cotchery will likely have plenty of time to heal.
Marcus Gilbert – Gilbert is still fighting his way back from an ankle tendon injury suffered back in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans. He will miss his 6th straight game on Sunday and was unable to practice any this past week. It is not looking good that Gilbert will be ready for next week at this point.
Antonio Brown – Brown was able to practice on limited basis all three days this past week and said on Friday that he hopes to play against the Browns if Tomlin clears him in pre game warm-ups. Brown was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report but I don\’t think that the Steelers head coach will risk it, so look for the wide receiver to show up on the inactive list.
Adrian Robinson – Stevenson Sylvester practiced fully all week again so I think Robinson will wind up without a helmet this week again as a result. It will likely be him or DeMarcus Van Dyke, but the Steelers special teams unit needs the speed of the cornerback on special teams to defend against big returns from Joshua Cribbs.
