The Pittsburgh Steelers are projected to list quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., guard Gennings Dunker, and defensive linemen Kevin Jobity Jr. and Gabriel Rubio as their seven Week 2 inactives against the New England Patriots.
Travis Homer and Doneiko Slaughter, both members of Pittsburgh’s initial practice squad, were elevated Saturday and should dress. Those elevations expand the roster to 55 players, leaving seven inactive slots when Pittsburgh dresses its 48 on Sunday.
Porter and Pittman are confirmed absences. Pittsburgh’s official Week 2 injury report lists Porter out with conditioning and back designations, while Pittman was downgraded to out with a foot injury. Pittman led the Steelers with 58 receiving yards in the opener, so his absence pushes Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard into roles behind DK Metcalf.
The projection should look familiar. Pittsburgh’s likeliest outcome is to repeat its six Week 1 inactives and add Pittman as the seventh. Homer's value on special teams and as experienced running-back depth makes him a likely active player, rather than an insurance elevation. Slaughter should dress for similar reasons with Porter unavailable. The official list arrives 90 minutes before kickoff.
Michael Pittman Jr.’s absence expands the roles of Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard
Allar should remain a standard inactive, while Howard will again receive the emergency third- quarterback designation. He’ll be in uniform but may enter only if Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph can’t continue. Pittsburgh’s decision to keep four quarterbacks was always going to leave one healthy passer without a game-day role. The rookie remains the obvious choice while Howard holds the emergency job.
Dunker’s the likeliest offensive-line scratch after sitting against Atlanta. Pittsburgh dressed eight of its nine offensive linemen in Week 1, and Troy Fautanu progressed to full participation Friday despite his questionable ankle. That points toward the same group dressing in New England. A late Fautanu setback would give Dunker his clearest path onto the active list, but the final practice report suggests Pittsburgh won’t need that contingency.
Jobity and Rubio are the easiest remaining projections. Both rookie defensive linemen sat in Week 1 when Pittsburgh dressed only five players from that position group. The Steelers could activate Rubio for more size against New England’s rushing attack, but doing so would mean taking a helmet from someone who filled a role in the opener. With the defensive front healthy, neither rookie has forced that tradeoff.
Dunker, Jobity, and Rubio should be expected. Where the pressure falls is on the players stepping in for Pittman and Porter. Pittman’s injury gives Wilson his best chance at a larger role, while Bernard should get his first real chance to contribute on offense. Slaughter supplies needed secondary depth without Porter, and Homer can contribute immediately on special teams.
Rubio remains the one plausible surprise because the Patriots could test Pittsburgh on the ground. The Steelers showed their preferred defensive-line rotation last week, and nothing has changed enough to demand another body there. The inactive list is easy to forecast. Bernard and Slaughter's performances are much harder to predict.
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