Steelers week three projected inactives

The Steelers head into San Francisco needing a win. Here is a look at who will be inactive this week.

Going into week 3 the Steelers have experienced some injuries and of course, have some healthy scratches to suit up the 45 of the 53 roster players.

Here is a list showing which players will not be participating in the matchup vs. the 49ers.

Roosevelt Nix

Roosevelt Nix will be out this week as he has a knee injury. He was ruled out early in the week, so that is an indication that he is farther from coming back than we initially thought.

Roosevelt Nix will be missed for his run blocking, which will have to be substituted by Zach Banner as a tackle eligible. He will also be missed on special teams.

Vince Williams

Vince Williams has been ruled out after not practicing all week. He has a hamstring injury; so, it shouldn’t keep him out too long.

Steelers will have to roll with Mark Barron and Devin Bush at inside linebacker which is still a decent combination to have. Vince Williams is key to the Steelers communication; so, this will be a chance to see what Devin Bush can do without the veteran player.

Anthony Chickillo

The Steelers will also be without Anthony Chickillo as he is out with a foot injury. He was seen at the beginning of the week in a walking boot.

This is an injury that hurts the Steelers the most on special teams as Chickillo is a contributor on special teams. My guess is this will be the regular-season debut of Jayron Elliott who flashed in the preseason.

Fred Johnson

Fred Johnson will probably be a healthy scratch this week with the offensive line healthy. He is probably just a reserve guard and right tackle at this point.

At the same time, the Steelers would really like to develop him as some linemen are beginning to age. He will likely be a healthy scratch a lot of the year.

Isaiah Buggs

The Steelers defensive line is healthy, and that means that Isaiah Buggs will be a healthy scratch. Buggs is a good player to have on the roster, but at this point, it is best to keep him as an inactive. I am guessing that at some point in his career that the Steelers will need him to dress.

Chukwoma Okorafor

Okorafor will be a healthy scratch, but the hope is that he continues to develop. It is a bad sign that he fell behind Zach Banner. He is currently the #4 tackle on the roster, but he is thought of as a potential left tackle if he lives up to his draft billing.

Zach Gentry

Zach Gentry has not been dressing, and I don’t think he will dress this week. A player like Justin Layne can help the Steelers more on special teams.

The Steelers are okay dressing only two tight ends, and so Zach Gentry is my projected seventh inactive. The Steelers can also use Zach Banner like a blocking tight end.

I am hopeful that despite the losses of injured players, particularly Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh will be able to pull off their first win of the season. Despite injured players and a winless record let’s hope for the best in this week’s matchup.