The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the fourteenth week of the 2025 regular season as they continue into the final third of the NFL season. With twelve inactive lists down for the season, things should be getting slightly easier outside of players with a questionable status. But with nobody questionable and three players ruled out, the difficulty of predicting thee inactive list comes down to any roster moves later today.

The rules in the 2025 season when it comes to the players active on game day have been carried over from the last five seasons with one additional caveat introduced two years ago. As long as a team has eight offensive linemen who will be dressing for the game, they could have 48 players on their active roster rather than the 46 in past years. If the Steelers elevate any players from their practice squad, their inactive list would increase by the same number of players. The one change last season is one quarterback on the inactive list can be designated as the “third quarterback” and will be in uniform, but they can only enter if the other two quarterbacks are injured. The player must be on the 53-man roster (not elevated from the practice squad) and will be designated when the inactive list is released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Playing on Sunday, the Steelers have until 4 PM today to make any roster moves or practice squad elevations. If there is any roster move done later today, an update may be added.

Game Status

OUT:

S Kyle Dugger (hand)
OT Calvin Anderson (knee)
DL Derrick Harmon (knee)

QUESTIONABLE:

None

Here are the possibilities to end up inactive for the Steelers against the Bills on Sunday:

Definitely:

S Kyle Dugger– This one hurts. We don’t have any news yet about when or how the injury occurred, or if it is going to go beyond this week.

OT Calvin Anderson– It’s safe to say he hurt his knee at practice, but there has yet to be a report on the degree of the injury. Anderson could even end up on IR later today if it’s that bad.

DL Derrick Harmon– He was drafted to help stop the run, particularly against the Ravens. The fact the Steelers are giving up 215.5 yards per game rushing when Harmon doesn’t play is not a good sign.

Most Likely:

QB Will Howard– I know many fans would like to see him this season, but it’s not going to be in the cards this week.

DT Logan Lee– I have to believe that Logan Lee is going to be the defensive lineman inactive every week unless there’s yet another injury.

Possibly:

DT Brodric Martin-Rhodes– He played in his first game last week, but it didn’t go overly well. There is the possibility the Steelers could go with Logan Lee instead, but it’s not as likely.

WR Scotty Miller– After being a healthy scratch this week, the Steelers now have seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster. It’s pretty likely Miller‘s going to be one of those inactive, but it’s not certain that the newest player is ready to go.

WR Adam Thielen– Just claimed off waivers on Tuesday, it is the kind of thing the Steelers do to have a new player inactive after just joining the team. But from a numbers standpoint, it’s just as possible the Steelers find a way to get Thielen some snaps.

Unlikely:

TBD– Last week a different player became a possibility after the specifics of the final roster moves. At this time, there’s no other players really on the radar to be inactive, but that could change if the Steelers do something unexpected later today.

Projected Inactive List:

Will Howard+
Kyle Dugger
Calvin Anderson
Derrick Harmon
Logan Lee
Scotty Miller*

+3rd quarterback who will dress

First things first, the Steelers are adding another offensive lineman. NFL teams have to have eight offensive lineman dressed in order to have 48 players active. If not, they are only allowed 46 players. For that reason, there will either be a practice squad elevation or someone signed to the 53-man roster if Calvin Anderson‘s knee injury is so bad it puts him on IR. The most likely candidate is going to be Dylan Cook.

Because of this, I am including six names in my prediction. If a lineman is brought up as a practice squad elevation, there will need to be six players. If a lineman is added and someone is put on IR, then that player on IR would come off the list.

Obviously the three injured players will be there unless one gets placed on IR. Will Howard is going to be the third quarterback yet again. Logan Lee has not gotten a helmet since September, so it’s pretty safe to assume him.

Honestly, it all comes down to wide receiver. I think the Steelers will put Scotty Miller inactive and try to utilize Adam Thielen if only for a few snaps. Miller would only play a few snaps anyway, so why not let the new guy get his feet wet? I will say if the Steelers another player from the practice squad at any position in addition to offensive line, it could mean that both wide receivers are inactive.

Once again, we’ll have to wait until the final roster moves are made by 4 PM to know for sure.

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