The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to finally kick off the 2023 NFL season against the San Francisco 49ers in Pittsburgh. The Steelers announced their 53-man roster at the end of training camp, and they can dress up to 48 players on game day as long as there are eight offensive linemen active. The following are five inactive players who will not be suiting up against the 49ers and will be unavailable to play Sunday.
-544x306.jpg "Steelers Mike Tomlin")
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin enters his 17th year with the Pittsburgh Steelers with high expectations and get back to having success in the playoffs.
Mason Rudolph, Quarterback
Mason Rudolph is a player many fans are probably excited to see not have a chance to play during a meaningful football game. On the roster he is behind Mitch Trubisky and Trubisky is the sure fire backup quarterback to Kenny Pickett. After the 49ers rough situation in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, the NFL brought back the emergency quarterback rule. As long as a team has two quarterbacks active (Pickett & Trubisky). So Rudolph should be inactive, however he will be dressed and designated the team's emergency quarterback in case anything happens to both Pickett and Trubisky.
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Steelers quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett and Chris Oladokun competed for jobs on the team in 2022.
Desmond King II, Cornerback
Desmond King II was just recently signed by the Steelers as an effort to bolster the cornerback room. King played for the Houston Texans in 2022, and was an All-Pro played in 2018. He has had his ups and downs throughout his NFL career, but a packed and versatile cornerback room is what will keep him inactive for this game. He hasn't spent much time with the team, so he is at a disadvantage. Once he spends more time with the playbook and finding his place within this team we can expect to see him find his was on the field for the Steelers.
Dylan Cook, Tackle
Dylan Cook seems to be the Steelers ninth offensive lineman, and the Steelers usually only keep eight offensive linemen active, so Cook will be inactive for the team's Week 1 matchup. Cook had a successful preseason as he made the 53-man roster and stayed in Pittsburgh, unlike Kevin Dotson and the 2022 Steelers inactive lineman, Kendrick Green. Cook will likely be active in the future if any injuries occur, but for now he is the ninth offensive lineman and the Steelers will look to only keep eight active.
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Steelers new DT, Armon Watts, while with the Chicago Bears
Armon Watts, Defensive End
Armon Watts is new to the Steelers this season, and he couldn't beat out Isaiahh Loudermilk for a spot on the active players list for Week 1. Watts signed with the Steelers after playing the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, and hasn't quite found his footing yet. He will need to have some good weeks of practice to avoid being a consistent inactive on game days for the defensive line.
Gunner Olszewski, Wide Receiver
Despite Pickett praising Gunner Olszewski, he will be inactive for Week 1. The Steelers will likely only dress five wide receivers on game days and Miles Boykin is a big part of the special teams game. Now that Calvin Austin, is healthy and beat out Olszewski as the Steelers return man, there isn't much of a reason to dress Olszewski. The Steelers wide receiver room is so good, that barring any injury, it is likely we see Olszewski as a consistent healthy scratch for the Steelers on game days.
What do you think of the inactives for the team's first game of the season? Let us know in the comments below!
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