The Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated two players from their practice squad for their Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team announced on Saturday.
Outside linebacker Eku Leota and running back Jonathan Ward have both been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. They will automatically return to the practice squad on Monday.
Ward will be elevated for the second straight game. Against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, he played in three snaps on offense, rushing two times for nine yards. He also played on 14 snaps of special teams.
It’s unclear why the Steelers have elevated Ward, as the team has removed second-string running back Jaylen Warren from its injury report. Warren missed the last two games with a knee sprain, but is now expected to play against the Raiders. Ward would give the Steelers four running backs, but they have played with just three all season.
Aaron Shampklin was not listed on the team’s injury report, but was nursing a right shoulder injury after practice on Friday. It’s possible that he could be scratched from the game, or the Steelers could roll with four backs.
Ward, 27, has played in 43 games over five NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and now the Steelers.
There is no question as to why Leota was recalled. The Steelers will be without edge rushers Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and DeMarvin Leal for this week’s game, and Leal is expected to miss the rest of the season with his neck injury.
Leota will be making his Steelers debut. He was just signed to the practice squad on Oct. 1 after being released by the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 24. Leota played in eight games with the Panthers last season an undrafted free agent out of Auburn. He played two games with the Panthers before his release this season.
T.J. Watt and Jeremiah Moon are expected to start at outside linebacker, with Leota and Ade Ogundeji providing depth. Ogundeji was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Saturday.