PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers have inactivated center Zach Frazier (ankle), running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring), safety Damontae Kazee (ankle), running back Aaron Shampklin (healthy scratch) and quarterback Kyle Allen (healthy scratch) for Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets. Allen will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) will be active for the first time since Week 3. With Herbig still sidelined, the Steelers promoted outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji to the active roster from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game.
Roman Wilson was limited in practice on Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury early in practice. Wilson said it’s not a major injury and appeared to be getting around just fine after practice.
Wilson had just made his NFL debut last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, playing in five snaps of offense without a target. Wilson had suffered a high ankle sprain on the first week of training camp that cost him all of the rest of camp, the entire preseason and most of the start of the regular season. The Steelers elevated wide receiver Brandon Johnson for this week’s game.
Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier did not suffer any structural damage in his injured left ankle and is considered week-to-week, according to a report by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher-Report. Frazier has started all six games this season and has posted an impressive 82.2 Pro Football Focus grade.
This is great news for the Steelers, as they’ve been decimated with injuries on the offensive line this season. Outside of Dan Moore Jr., the entire starting offensive line has been hindered with injuries. The unit has already lost Troy Fauntau and James Daniels to season-ending injuries.
Frazier suffered the left ankle injury in Sunday’s 32-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Frazier was blocking on a run play and got rolled up on. Evan Washburn said on the CBS broadcast that Frazier took some snaps with Russell Wilson on the sideline and wanted to go back in, but the medical staff held him out.
Ryan McCollum will start in Frazier’s place on Sunday night. It will be his second career start.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.