The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the seventh week of the 2026 regular season and are back on the road to face the New Orleans Saints in Paris. With six inactive lists down for the season, it should be slightly easier to predict outside of the injuries. For Week 7, the Steelers have two players ruled out and two players listed as questionable, although one has not yet been placed back on the 53-man roster.

The rules in the 2026 season when it comes to the players active on game day have been carried over from the last six seasons with one additional caveat introduced three years ago. As long as a team has eight offensive linemen who will be dressing for the game, they will have 48 players on their active roster. If the Steelers elevate any players from their practice squad, their inactive list would increase by the same number of players. The one change from a few seasons ago is one quarterback on the inactive list can be designated as the “third quarterback” and will be in uniform, but they can only enter the game if the other two quarterbacks are injured. The player must be on the 53-man roster and will be designated when the inactive list is released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Playing on Sunday morning, the Steelers have until 4 PM ET today to make any roster moves or practice squad elevations, although I expect them to probably announce them sooner due to time difference and early game. If there is any roster move done later today, an update may be added.

Game Status

OUT:

WR Ben Skowronek (calf)
CB Brandin Echols (knee)

*Not on the 53-man roster

QUESTIONABLE:

RB Rico Dowdle (knee)
*S DeShon Elliott (knee)

*Not on the 53-man roster

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for the Steelers against the Saints:

Definitely:

CB Brandin Echols– It looks like Echols is the one who we have to ask if he will be put on IR this week. The fact the Steelers have already made one IR move makes it unlikely, but it is at least possible.

WR Ben Skowronek– At least he avoided IR, but it’s another week out for Benny Skow as he didn’t even make the trip.

Most Likely:

QB Will Howard– He gets to wear his uniform in Paris!

QB Drew Allar– He does not get to wear his uniform in Paris.

RB Eli Heidenreich– There are just too many other RBs on the 53-man roster to have the rookie be the 5th one.

CB Terell Smith– It’s his third game with the Steelers, and it’s likely going to be his third game inactive.

Possibly:

DT Kevin Jobity Jr.– I have to admit there’s at least a possibility Jobity does not get a helmet if the Steelers promote another DT from the practice squad such as Esezi Otomewo.

RB Rico Dowdle– He’s questionable, but I think it’s like last week where he will play but not have to see too many snaps.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting– After being inactive last week while getting a helmet his first game in Pittsburgh, this is merely a numbers game when it comes to if there is a spot left on the 48.

Unlikely:

DT Esezi Otomewo– If he’s elevated from the practice squad, he’s going to be active. So it all comes down to which DT the Steelers choose to dress. Either way he’s not on the inactive list.

S DeShon Elliott– It would make no sense to bring him back to the 53-man roster and not have him be active. If he’s playing, he’ll be moved to the roster. If he’s not, his name won’t be on the list either.

Projected Inactive List:

Brandin Echols
Ben Skowronek
Will Howard+
Drew Allar
Eli Heidenreich
Terell Smith*

+3rd quarterback and will dress

The biggest question this week is how the Steelers are going to fill out their 53-man roster and elevate any players from the practice squad. The Steelers currently have two spots on the 53, and I believe they will go to DeShon Elliott and a wide receiver, most likely Brandon Smith. I also think another WR will be an elevated from the practice squad whether it’s the other Brandon or MVS. This scenario gives the 6 players I have as the inactive list.

Where things get curious is if the Steelers elevate a second player from the practice squad, therefore needing to have seven players inactive. I did not list the seventh player because I think it completely comes down to who is elevated. If it is Esezi Otomewo, then Jobity is the last name on the list. If it’s somebody else from another position, then I think it’s Murphy-Bunting who fills out the last spot. But I’m also not sure if the Steelers will elevate two players after filling the two open roster spots. That’s why I’m holding off to only say they’ll elevate one for sure, giving six names, and then add the seventh name once I learn who is elevated. The Steelers are down a CB this week in Echols, so wanting to have Murphy-Bunting active just in case makes sense, even if he doesn’t play a snap.

Being in France, chances are this announcement will come fairly early on Saturday. Looks like we might not have to wait all the way until 4 PM…

UPDATE: The Steelers did activate DeShon Elliot to the 53-man roster, but left their other roster spot vacant and elevated two WRs from the practice squad for the second-straight week in Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson. It is now the third elevation for Brandon Smith. This means the inactive list will be six players, and the above list is still the prediction.

As always, feel free to list your projected inactives in the comments below.