Malik Reed a healthy scratch for Steelers vs. Ravens
BALTIMORE — When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Malik Reed just before the season began, Reed immediately became their top backup at outside linebacker. Now, Reed isn’t even activated for games.
For the second time in a four-game span, Reed is a healthy scratch. Reed was one of six inactives announced 90 minutes prior to Sunday night’s game at the Baltimore Ravens. Reed not being in uniform left Jamir Jones as the only true outside linebacker available spell starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith — but the Steelers often have deployed rookie defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal on the edge.
Coincidentally or not, the other game in this recent stretch that Reed did not play was also against the Ravens (Dec. 11 in Pittsburgh).
The lone absence because of injury for the Steelers on Sunday was defensive back Tre Norwood. On Friday, it was announced Norwood would not play because of a hamstring injury suffered during last week’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Two starters on defense who entered the weekend listed as questionable — inside linebacker Myles Jack and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi — were in uniform to play against Baltimore.
Newly-acquired inside linebacker Tae Crowder was a healthy inactive, meaning rookie Mark Robinson again was in line to serve as a backup inside linebacker against the Ravens.
The other healthy scratches were No. 3 quarterback Mason Rudolph, interior offensive lineman Kendrick Green and defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall.
Two Ravens players listed as questionable on Friday — veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell (knee) and reserve tight end Nick Boyle (illness) — were not in uniform to face the Steelers.
It had been previously announced that former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee) and starting cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) would not play Sunday.
Running back Kenyan Drake, offensive lineman Trystan Colon and linebacker David Ojabo also were inactive for Baltimore.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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