CINCINNATI — After playing one offensive snap and being back to return nine opponent kickoffs during the past two games since coming off the injured reserve list, Anthony McFarland was designated as a healthy inactive for Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
A fourth-year running back, McFarland was on IR from Week 2 through Week 8. Since his return to the 53-man roster he’s seen sparse action. Godwin Igwebuike has been handling kickoff returns when McFarland has not been available.
Four days after signing with the Steelers off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, veteran inside linebacker Blake Martinez also was a healthy scratch Sunday. Martinez is an eight-year NFL veteran who came out of retirement last month and was brought in to fortify a position group that lost two starters to season-ending injury over the past three weeks.
The Steelers’ other healthy inactive was offensive tackle Dylan Cook, with Mason Rudolph in his customary spot as the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Via the league-mandated injury report, the Steelers on Friday had divulged that All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and starting defensive lineman Montravius Adams would remain out of game action. Fitzpatrick has missed four consecutive games because of a hamstring injury, and Adams has sat out three in a row because of an ankle injury.
Despite missing practice Friday and being designated as questionable that day because of a shoulder injury, reserve cornerback James Pierre is in uniform against the Bengals.
The Bengals, of course, are without star quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist), and wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game. Starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt remained out after suffering a quad injury during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Cincinnati’s most recent game.
Backup tackle D’Ante Smith (knee), reserve running back Chris Evans (healthy), backup center Trey Hill (healthy) and reserve defensive lineman Jay Tufele (healthy) were the Bengals inactives.
Starting linebacker Germaine Pratt (illness) and running back Chase Brown (hamstring) were in uniform despite getting questionable designations Friday.
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