The Pittsburgh Steelers have been decimated with injuries as of late, especially in the trenches. Due to those injuries, two young players will be making their first career starts on the offensive line. Not only that, but Russell Wilson may miss his Steelers debut due to a lingering calf issue. The Steelers have issues all over the place due to injury, but right before their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, they decided to make another move regarding Injured Reserve (IR).
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive lineman Logan Lee at the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 rookie minicamp.
The Steelers have officially placed rookie defensive lineman Logan Lee on IR, according to Aaron Becker. He will be forced to miss the first four games of the season, with the potential to miss even more.
The #Steelers placed DL Logan Lee on the Reserve/Injured List and elevated WR Ben Skowronek from the Practice Squad to the Active/Inactive roster.
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) September 7, 2024
The sixth-round rookie lineman snuck onto the 53-man roster as the last man on the depth chart for the position. He was not expected to get a lot of reps during the season, but still could have benefitted from playing on special teams, as well as getting a few defensive snaps in here and there. For now, however, he will be learning from watching practice and attending meetings, as opposed to developing with experience.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Logan Lee practicing at OTAs (Organized Team Activities).
Steelers Add Depth Elsewhere To Fill Up Roster
As opposed to bringing in another defensive lineman to replace Lee, the Steelers opted to call up a sixth wide receiver. Ben Skowronek has been called up to the Active/Inactive roster from the practice squad. That does not mean he will play, however, as he could end up being a healthy scratch if Mike Tomlin believes he needs depth elsewhere. The move is also a temporary call-up, and he could revert back to the practice squad after Week 1.
Skowronek was a depth receiver during his three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, and he was even a part of their Super Bowl LVI championship team. After the 2024 NFL Draft, he was traded to the Houston Texans for a late-round pick swap, then he was released during roster cutdown day. The Steelers signed him to the practice squad shortly after that, and he now gets a chance to suit up to open up the season.
Los Angeles Rams
Ben Skowronek with the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LVI.
With the Steelers' lack of receiver depth, Skowronek could get his chance to make his mark on the team, just like Scotty Miller did in preseason, as he was able to force his way onto the roster. Skowronek could be a factor on special teams, which could make the Steelers keep him on the 53-man roster for a longer period of time.
What do you think about Lee being placed on IR, as well as Skowronek being called up? Let us know in the comments below!
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