Steelers week two projected inactives against the Seahawks

The Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on Sunday. Here is the list of projected inactives for week 2.

The Steelers head into a crucial game against the Seahawks where they will have to prove that last week was a fluke. They started the week with a lot of injuries, but they were minor and look to be relatively healthy going into the game.

My main concern is that a lot of key guys might be playing hurt. This could cause a negative outcome despite a seemingly healthy team.

Roosevelt Nix

Nix has probably the most significant injury of the group. He has a knee injury that could sideline him for a few weeks. He is currently ruled out for the Seahawks game after not practicing all week.

They might bring in a tight end like Xavier Grimble or Zach Gentry to play fullback for him. They might also use Zach Banner as a tackle eligible to block on the side of the tackle. What they will not be able to replace is his aggressiveness on special teams.

Joe Haden

Haden has a sprained AC Joint and is listed as questionable on the injury report. He practiced fully on Friday and so that is a sign that he could be good to go. Haden is the Steelers best corner, and the hope is that he will be able to play against the Seahawks. Haden is our best chance at holding down Tyler Lockett.

I will put him as an inactive, but if he is able to go, then Justin Layne will lose his helmet for this game.

Isaiah Buggs

Buggs is the sixth defensive lineman and seeing as there are no injuries on the defensive line, he should be a healthy scratch on Sunday. He has the ability to play the inside and the outside of the defensive line, making him a valuable player to this team. They just have plenty of depth on the defensive line.

Jayrone Elliott

Listed as “Jay” on the roster, he is a player that flashed in the preseason. He had a strip-sack which he recovered for a touchdown. He has some NFL experience, and it is enough that he is no longer eligible for the practice squad. That means the Steelers will probably carry him on the 53 man roster until they have to make a move. He will be a healthy scratch unless there are a lot of injuries on the roster or at outside linebacker.

Zach Gentry

Gentry will probably be a healthy scratch unless there are injuries at tight end. The Steelers generally dress three tight ends, but Gentry is still developing. The other reason he will be a healthy scratch is that he does little on special teams. Unless there is an injury at tight end, look for Gentry to be on this list a lot.

Chukswoma Okorafor

The Steelers like to dress seven offensive linemen, and so this week Okorafor might be the odd man out. Okorafor was the top backup at tackle but has lost the job to Zach Banner. The Steelers see Okorafor as a developmental prospect, and so they will keep him on the roster. He also will provide them with depth at tackle.

Fred Johnson

Johnson will probably also be inactive with all seven offensive linemen healthy. Maurkice Pouncey is listed as questionable, but Pouncey says he is going to play.

That means that Fred Johnson will be down if Pouncey is playing. Fred Johnson could get a helmet if Pouncey can’t play to help add to the depth on the interior.

Conclusion

The Steelers had a long injury report this week. However, a lot of those players got healthy as the week went on. It seems like Watt, Smith-Schuster, Davis, and Edmunds were limited early in the week as a precaution. My hope is that Joe Haden dresses, but otherwise the team is healthy enough to win at home against Seattle.