The Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener on Sunday afternoon. The team recently announced the initial 53-man roster, but that doesn't mean all of the players will compete in a jersey each Sunday. Pittsburgh can dress 48 guys each week (if eight offensive lineman are active) and have just released the names of five who will not be active for the week one matchup. There was original speculation that the Steelers may have three quarterbacks suiting up after Kenny Pickett jumped Mason Rudolph on the depth chart, but that theory has been put to bed for the first game of the season. Here are the inactive players against the Bengals.
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph makes a pass against the Detroit Lions in the 2022 preseason | Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
1.) Mason Rudolph, QB
The Steelers have never been known to dress three quarterbacks. That doesn't change to begin the 2022 season as the fifth-year veteran will be watching in street clothes from the sideline. While this isn't the biggest surprise on the list to begin the year, it certainly solidifies that Pickett is the guy behind Mitch Trubisky going forward and increases the chances of Rudolph potentially being traded.
2.) Kendrick Green, G
If nine offensive lineman are on the 53-man roster, one is likely to be the odd man out. A year ago, the team had Rashaad Coward as an inactive for week one and the team follows suit with Green this year. The second-year, third-round draft pick has not performed well thus far in his career. If he remains inactive for the majority of games in 2022, this could be his last season in Pittsburgh.
3.) Mark Robinson
The flexible hybrid player, Marcus Allen, has been nursing a hamstring injury, but was able to avoid IR and get back to practicing this week leading up to the opener. The Steelers have depth at the safety position, but Allen's special teams play puts him ahead of Robinson. The rookie played great during the preseason, but is still a very raw talent and will need plenty of time to mature.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Marcus Allen (#27). | Jordan Schofield | SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
4.) Steven Sims, WR
Sims was very impressive throughout the preseason and found his way to the active roster when the team had plans to send rookie, Calvin Austin III to IR. Sims is the backup punt returner, but that is no reason to keep him active. There's a strong chance he is waived once Austin returns and he may not get a legitimate chance to prove himself during the regular season unless an injury occurs to the wide receiver room in the first few weeks.
5.) Isaiahh Loudermilk
The Steelers give the nod to the rookie, DeMarvin Leal instead of Loudermilk. Leal was solid in the preseason, but many thought Loudermilk did nothing wrong in order to lose his spot on the game day roster. We could see this be in flux throughout the season as defensive lineman tend to have injuries and miss time. The biggest talking point here is that Leal, a third-round pick in April's NFL Draft, will have an opportunity to prove himself.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman, DeMarvin Leal at 2022 training camp | SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
All of these guys may get a chance to suit up and make an impact throughout the next 18 weeks, but for now, they land on the first inactive list of the season and will take the role of being more of a cheerleader over anything else.
Are you surprised by a certain player landing on the inactive list this week? Let us know in the comments below!
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