What coach Mike Tomin alluded to Tuesday and Steven Sims said would happen Wednesday was made official Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their inactives for the game at the Buffalo Bills: Sims was promoted to the Steelers’ return man role, and Gunner Olszewski was designated an inactive for the first time this season.

Signed over the offseason after a recent All Pro 2020 season, Olszewski had a muff or fumble in two of his first four games with the Steelers, and Tomlin confirmed he’d lost confidence in Olszewski. Sims, who played two seasons for Washington and has experience returning punts and kicks, was not in uniform for the Steelers’ first four games after making the 53-man roster at the start of the season.

Sims also fills a niche role on offense, particularly with jet sweeps.

The only drama among the announcement about pregame inactives related to No. 1 cornerback Cameron Sutton, who was listed as questionable to play when the league-mandated status report was released Friday. Sutton, though, told reporters he would play against the Bills despite his groin/hamstring injury.

That was important because the Steelers were known to be without two starters in their secondary in cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and safety Terrell Edmunds. Former Bills player Levi Wallace took Witherspoon’s place, and Tre Norwood is handling most of Edmunds’ duties.

The Steelers’ other inactives have remained the same throughout the season: quarterback Mason Rudolph, offensive lineman Kendrick Green, defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk

and inside linebacker Mark Robinson.

The Steelers had announced Saturday that they’d promoted outside linebacker Ryan Anderson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and that cornerback Josh Jackson and safety Elijah Riley were designated as call-ups from the practice squad to face the Bills.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)