The Packers added new safety Innis Gaines from the practice squad to the active roster to fill the team’s roster spot left behind by Rasul Douglas, they announced on Saturday. Gaines comes up amid multiple injuries to the Packers’ safety room ahead of the Steelers game. Free safety Rudy Ford is questionable, while Darnell Savage is on injured reserve with a calf injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander is not expected to play with a shoulder injury, and fellow cornerback Eric Stokes is on injured reserve.
The depleted secondary will trot out promising rookie Carrington Valentine with veterans Robert Rochell and Corey Ballentine on the outside. Keisean Nixon and Gaines will man the slot. It could be a day where Pittsburgh looks to George Pickens and Diontae Johnson to have big games with some of the deficiencies the Packers face.
Kenny Pickett and the passing game will hope they can get something going against an undermanned secondary. Gaines is a potential special teamer who helps out the undermanned secondary. He played with a talented group of cornerbacks while at TCU, with all those defensive backs now in the NFL or having been in the NFL. But Pittsburgh should be expected to have success against this secondary. The Steelers have the weapons to exploit it, though Ginnis and the Packers will hope to slow it down.