One starting outside cornerback returned to game action but another was ruled out for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular-season finale.
Veteran Donte Jackson was among the list of Steelers inactives for Saturday night’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson aggravated a back injury earlier this week and was listed as questionable on the league-mandated status report released Thursday. Jackson suffered the injury during a Dec. 15 loss in Philadelphia and missed the ensuing Steelers game six days later in Baltimore. He played in the Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs, though.
The Steelers’ other starting cornerback, Joey Porter Jr., missed that contest because of a knee injury suffered against the Ravens. It was announced Thursday that he would return to game action. Receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) similarly returned to active status Saturday after sitting out the Dec. 25 game because of an injury suffered four days prior in a loss at the Baltimore Ravens.
Fields in, DL-men out
Now fully healed from an abdominal injury suffered after a run in the Dec. 15 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles, Justin Fields was deemed healthy enough to serve as the backup quarterback against the Bengals. Veteran Kyle Allen reverted back to his No. 3 “emergency” role.
The Steelers’ healthy scratches included a pair of veteran defensive linemen in Dean Lowry and Isaiahh Loudermilk. Also inactive despite no injury is veteran receiver Scotty Miller.
No Brown for Bengals
Ten yards short of a 1,000-yard rushing season, running back Chase Brown is not active against the Steelers because of an ankle injury. Brown, who has 1,350 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns, had 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the Steelers in a Dec. 1 defeat.
Brown was listed as questionable headed into the day, but three other Bengals starters who also were questionable are active against the Steelers: receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee), right tackle Amariuis Mims (ankle/hand) and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle).
Cincinnati defensive lineman Sam Hubbard will miss a third consecutive game because of a knee injury.
Receivers Charlie Jones (groin) and Jermaine Burton, defensive end Isaiah Thomas, tackle Andrew Stuber and tight end Tanner McLachlan were Cincinnati’s other scratches.
