Steelers inactive for Week 4 vs. Colts

The Steelers enter today’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium without several key players, but coach Mike Tomlin is always focused on who is available rather than who is unavailable.

Linebacker Alex Highsmith, running back Jaylen Warren, tight end MyCole Pruitt and guard Isaac Seumalo are all inactive due to injuries, while cornerback Darius Rush and receiver Roman Wilson are also among the inactive, and Russell Wilson is the third quarterback.

With Highsmith out with a groin injury, it will be Nick Herbig and DeMarvin Leal who will be available and asked to step up, both against the pass and rush.

“I think if you want to be an elite player and play at an elite level, you have to play all three downs,” Herbig said. “That was a big focus for me in camp. Mike T(omlin) talked about it every day, working on the running game.”

Herbig stepped in against the Chargers when Highsmith was injured and finished the game with two sacks.

It’s par for the course, given the way he capitalizes on every click.

“I think it’s my coaches and teammates, the ones who believe in me, put me in a position to make plays, guide me and show me the ropes,” Herbig said. “It’s a good feeling because you know your hard work is paying off.

“You work all year long, all offseason, for moments like that, to be able to go out and perform.”

In addition to his work on the defensive line, Leal worked at the outside linebacker spot during team development and is expected to expand his role this week.

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin takes comfort in what Leal offers, especially considering his maturity since he first arrived.

“A big thing for him in terms of the way he approaches his job and the consistency with which he tries to do his job is a change,” Austin said. “We actually expected that when we drafted Marv. He was a young man, a 21-year-old man coming in and having some growing to do.

“We thought there would be some growing pains along the way. I think his performance in camp and the things that we like and have seen about it this offseason and everything is due to his maturity and the things that he’s starting to do more consistently .

Linebacker TJ Watt knows Leal will bring it today and give the defense what they need with Highsmith out.

“This isn’t his first go-around,” Watt said. “He has been given live play replays to both the end and outside linebacker. So we feel comfortable with that.

“He’s asking good questions. He’s shown a lot of versatility in his pass rush moves. Obviously he can stop the run.

“He’s a big guy. Not only is he powerful as he looks, he’s got a lot of finesse, as you’ve seen. He’s come a long way and I’m really happy he’s getting some playing time.”

At running back, Jaylen Warren continues to be hampered by the knee injury he suffered against the Chargers last week. When Warren left the game, it was Cordarrelle Patterson who was asked to step in behind Najee Harris. If that’s the case again this week, Harris knows everything will be fine.

“CP is a future Hall of Famer,” Harris said. “He works in every offense. He’s a good player. What he brings to the table is something people have to capitalize on. He’s a good player.”

Patterson considers himself a jack-of-all-trades, even putting aside the option of playing defense or quarterback when necessary.

“I’m not selling myself short on anything,” Patterson said. “I feel like I can play any position on the football field. When my name is called, I just go out there and make a play. No matter what happens, whether it’s on the kickoff or the punt, in the defense or at the quarterback.”

“I’m not selling myself short. The more you can do, the longer you’ll be in this league. I’m so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to be ready and willing to play any position.”

Even though it’s still early in the season, the Steelers have relied heavily on the “next man up” mentality, including on the offensive line, and Harris said they need to keep that going.

“It’s the next man up. That’s the mentality,” Harris said. “Whoever is sitting there, we expect him to do the same as the person who was there before. It’s 11-on-11, the ultimate team sport.

“We expect you to have that standard. It’s just the ‘next man up’ mentality. You expect them to go in and do the job. Just ‘next man up’.”

On the attacking front, although Seumalo returned to training this week, he will not be active today. With Seumalo out, guards Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson are both expected to see time.

Last week against the Chargers, Anderson and McCormick alternated, but both were also on the field at the same time when the Steelers were in the jumbo package, with six offensive linemen.

Anderson said it’s all part of the next man up mentality. Before the season started, center Nate Herbig was placed on the reserve/injured list, and rookie Zach Frazier stepped in. Seumalo was injured in training before the season started and has not seen match action, with Anderson and McCormick stepping up.

“I’m confident in who I am,” McCormick said. “I’ve worked really hard to put myself in this position, and so I’m going to go out there and do what I have to do and play as hard as I can, and the rest will take care of itself.”
“I’m super excited. Any time you get a chance to play this game, it’s a fun one. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and whatever happens, happens.”

The Steelers also elevated defensive back Thomas Graham Jr. and running back Aaron Shampklin from the practice squad to the Active/Inactive Roster for the game due to injuries.

Graham was signed to a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2023 season and was subsequently added to the practice squad at the start of the season. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in four games for the Bears, recording 13 tackles and four passes defended. He also spent time on the Bears practice squad.

Shampklin was with the team for the entire offseason and preseason, was cut from the final roster and returned to the practice squad. Shampklin originally joined the Steelers when he signed a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2023 season. Before that, he spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, and also spent part of the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys.

The full list of inactives can be found below.