Pat Freiermuth, 4 DBs Lead 7 Steelers Inactives vs. Buccaneeers

PITTSBURGH — Starting tight end Pat Freiermuth and four starting Steelers defensive backs lead the inactive list as they face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Freiermuth will miss the game with a concussion suffered last week in Buffalo. That is his third concussion in his first two seasons in the NFL. He was limited in practice throughout the week, however, signaling that he could return soon. Zach Gentry and Connor Heyward will see more action.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, star free safety, is one of four defensive backs to miss the game. He suffered a knee injury against the New York Jets, but gutted it out against the Bills. However, it seems that the nagging nature of the injury will cause him to miss the game. Tre Norwood will start in his place.

Cam Sutton, Levi Wallace, and Ahkello Witherspoon, the team’s top three cornerbacks, are all inactive. Sutton and Witherspoon are dealing with hamstring injuries. Witherspoon is missing his third straight game, while Sutton will miss his first after dealing with nagging soft tissue injuries for the past three weeks. Wallace is in concussion protocol after suffering a concussion against the Bills.

In their place, James Pierre and Josh Jackson will start at cornerback. Pittsburgh elevated Quincy Wilson and Elijah Riley to help with their defensive back depth prior to the game against the Bills. They will still play with only four cornerbacks on the active roster.

Rounding out the inactives are Mason Rudolph and Kendrick Green. Both Rudolph and Green have failed to dress for a game this season. Defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk and linebacker Mark Robinson will make their season debuts against Tampa Bay.