Isaiah Buggs the odd man out on D-line as lone non-QB healthy inactive for Steelers

There has been an apparent change in the depth chart for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line, albeit a minor one. Despite being listed on the league-mandated official injury report as healthy for Sunday’s game, Isaiah Buggs is not in uniform to play the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A second-year pro, Buggs spent most of the first half of the season as the primary backup to starters Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu. After an injury to Alualu during a Nov. 1 game in Baltimore, Buggs made two plays on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson late to help seal a win. But a combination of the return from injury of veteran Chris Wormley and the emergence of Henry Mondeaux and rookie Carlos Davis have relegated Buggs to the bench.

Buggs has been hampered by an ankle injury. Last week, he was officially listed as questionable and did not play in a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Alualu returned to face the Bengals and Mondeaux (11 snaps) and Davis (seven snaps) served as backups.

Wormley was activated to the 53-man roster from the injured reserve list on Saturday.

Buggs was a sixth-round pick last year. Davis was a seventh-round pick this past spring.

The lone other healthy inactive for the Steelers is No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs. Depth running backs Jaylen Samuels (quadriceps) and Trey Edmunds (hamstring) and reserve outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott (illness) had already been announced as unable to play Sunday.

Though none of those three plays a significant role on offense or defense, each is a part of multiple special-teams units that must now have spots filled.

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