Week 1 is finally here! We’re done with meaningless football, and fortunately, the Steelers got through preseason relatively injury free. No major injuries to any starters, and only one player placed on IR (Cameron Sutton). Though Dangerfield is on the “Street IR” as he was waived due to his injury. The Steelers can bring back 2 players from the IR, if they choose, after 8 weeks in reserve.
For Starters, Mike Mitchell has finally worked his way back from a hamstring issue that ‘hamstrung’ him all preseason. He is practicing fully and should start on Sunday. Jerald Hawkins, the young backup tackle, has been ruled out. Though I’m not sure if he would have been active on gameday, even if he was healthy.
I track and try to predict timelines for returning to the field, for all Steeler players. This is a link to our current spreadsheet. It will get updated on Wed, Thu, and Fri after the practice reports are issued. Bookmark it to see how the health of the Steelers is shaping up each week.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ITv8kcpFE-jqlzgwBpNh0D31bL2YqJnw7a61v3wb33g/edit?usp=sharing
I did an Inactive/Suspended/Injured list for last year as well. To check out the final numbers from 2016, check this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/161Sdj_2vJ50u9XzGRc8flz7bYFz4Kovvzl8PurKIxWg/edit?usp=sharing
I will list 8 inactives this week instead of 7. We have a roster exemption for Le’Veon Bell, so someone will have to be cut before the game. The 8th inactive player will be my prediction for the player cut.
1. Jerald Hawkins: Already listed as out. Definitely on the list
2. Josh Dobbs: Healthy Scratch/ 3rd QB
3. Bud Dupree: Had a bad trend of practicing this week that projects him to being out on Sunday. Arthur Moats would be inactive if Dupree plays.
4. Matt Feiler: We don’t need both interior backup linemen active. BJ Finney should get a hat.
5. Justin Hunter: He’s explosive, but without special teams reps, I don’t see him getting a hat this week.
6. Brian Allen: It’s a numbers game with the CBs and it believe he’s the odd man out
7. Daniel McCullers: Last inactive came to Big Dan, Xavier Grimble, and Terrell Watson, and with Bell’s first game being this week, I keep an extra RB just in case. Plus Watson can possibly return kicks. I also think we keep 3 TEs for certain formations. LT Walton can fill in at nose in a pinch.
8. Steven Johnson: Not only will Stevie be inactive, but I believe he is the player that will be cut. We have one too many interior LB and he’s played well all preseason. But Fort and Matakevich have been better. Stevie is talented enough to be on an NFL roster, and we may see him on this roster, later in the year.
