INDIANAPOLIS — A back injury that surfaced in the middle of the practice week will keep inside linebacker Robert Spillane from playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their game Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts.

Spillane was among seven players placed on the inactive list for the game between the 3-7 Steelers and the 4-6-1 Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Spillane was a full practice participant to start the week Thursday, but he could only practice on a limited basis Friday and Saturday and was listed as questionable to play.

With Spillane out, rookie Mark Robinson will be on the game day roster for the second time this season. Robinson also was active when the Steelers played Tampa Bay. Marcus Allen also could see snaps at inside linebacker behind starters Devin Bush and Myles Jack.

Spillane has appeared in 44 games, making 12 starts, with the Steelers since 2019. He has four pass breakups, one sack and 40 tackles in 10 games (one start) this season.

Also inactive for the Steelers were injured wide receiver Miles Boykin (oblique), running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring). Healthy scratches for the Steelers were quarterback Mason Rudolph, cornerback Josh Jackson and guard Kendrick Green.

With Warren not suiting up for the first time this season, fourth-year veteran Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland, promoted from the practice squad, served as the backup to starting running back Najee Harris.

The Colts were without starting defensive end Kwity Paye, who has an ankle injury, and tight end Kylen Granson because of an illness. Other inactives for the Colts were quarterback Nick Foles, wide receiver Keke Coutee, defensive linemen Khalid Kareem and Ifeadi Odenigbo and center Wesley French.

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue dressed for the Colts after being on the injury report during the week.

Two added

Because of injuries to Warren and Boykin, the Steelers promoted McFarland and wide receiver Cody White from the practice squad. They will revert back to the practice squad after the game.

McFarland, a fourth-round pick in 2020, was set to make his season debut with the Steelers. He had appeared in 13 games over his first two NFL seasons.

White also made his season debut on the active roster. He appeared in 15 games over the previous two seasons, spending most of last season on the active roster and 2020 on the practice squad. White not only got a helmet, he was on the field for the first snap.

Fitzpatrick in the lead

Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is the leading online vote getter at his position, according to the latest results of Pro Bowl Games balloting released Monday. Fitzpatrick, who already has been named to two Pro Bowl rosters in his career. has received 56,306 votes.

The 88 Pro Bowl Games roster selections are determined by voting done by fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward the makeup of the roster. Coaches and players will cast their ballots Dec. 16.

Starting Thursday, fans can vote directly on Twitter for the final two weeks of balloting.

The leading vote getter overall is Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson with 90,313 votes.

The traditional AFC-NFC matchup has been scrapped in favor of a skills competition that culminates with a flag football game.

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