Steelers vs. Bears: RB Anthony McFarland inactive for Steelers
A week after Anthony McFarland’s 2021 debut, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back was back in street clothes for a game.
McFarland was announced as a healthy scratch for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears. The second-year speedster began the season on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury during training camp, but he returned to practice last month and was in uniform for last week’s win at the Cleveland Browns.
McFarland, though, played just seven snaps and had one carry for 1 yard. With Benny Snell Jr. and Kalen Ballage available behind starter Najee Harris, the Steelers don’t have the need for four running backs — particularly in a week when Kevin Rader was called up from the practice squad to serve as a No. 3 tight end.
That move was necessitated by a hamstring injury to Eric Ebron that kept Ebron out of a game for the second consecutive week. The only other player on the end-of-week injury report, reserve interior offensive lineman B.J. Finney, is in uniform for the game against the Bears. Finney was listed as questionable because of a back injury.
The Steelers continued to scratch offensive tackle Zach Banner, who began last season as their starter at right tackle and was re-signed over the offseason to resume that role but began the season on IR as he continued to rehab from a torn ACL. Veteran Joe Haeg continues to serve as the “swing” backup tackle to starters Chuks Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr.
Also inactive for the Steelers versus Chicago are No. 3 quarterback Dwayne Haskins, veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and rookie linebacker Buddy Johnson.
The Bears on Monday announced the activation of starting running back David Montgomery off of IR. Their inactives include starters edge rusher Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson and linebacker Alec Ogletree. Also scratched were former Steelers cornerback Artie Burns and Shaler Area graduate tight end J.P. Holtz.
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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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