After a one-game reprieve back in the gameday lineup, Roman Wilson again found himself without a helmet for Sunday’s winner-take-all AFC North showdown.
With Calvin Austin III returning from a one-game injury absence, Wilson was among the Steelers’ designated inactives for the regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.
A third-round pick of the Steelers 20 months ago, Wilson was in uniform for just 14 of their 34 games over his first two NFL seasons. Though injury played a small role in that last season, Wilson finishes the season as a healthy scratch for four of the final five games.
With Austin out for last week’s game at the Cleveland Browns because of a hamstring injury, Wilson suited up but played just nine snaps and was not targeted. That Wilson has not been part of the game plan these past two weeks is especially notable because WR1 DK Metcalf has served a two-game suspension for his interaction with a fan in Detroit.
Wilson has fallen down the depth chart behind the likes of Scotty Miller (a healthy scratch for five games earlier this season), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (who was out of football until the Steelers’ signed him to their practice squad in November) and Adam Thielen (who was waived by the Minnesota Vikings four weeks ago).
No Johnson, either
Another young Steelers skill-position player and recent third-round pick — running back Kaleb Johnson — was again a healthy scratch. Johnson, a rookie, did not dress for any of the Steelers’ final three games and fell behind backup tight end Jonnu Smith as the Steelers’ third running back.
The Steelers’ other healthy inactives Sunday night were veteran cornerback Tre Flowers, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon and veteran offensive lineman Jack Driscoll.
Rookie Will Howard was designated as the Steelers’ “emergency” No. 3 QB. The team announced Saturday that defensive back D’Shawn Jamison was to be elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
The Steelers welcomed five starters back into the lineup after missing at least one game: Austin, cornerbacks Brandin Echols (groin) and James Pierre (calf), left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) and outside linebacker T.J. Watt (lung).
Humphrey plays
Though the Ravens on Saturday announced that starting receiver Rashod Bateman would not play against the Steelers because of illness, starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey was spared the same fate. Despite being listed as questionable headed into the weekend, Humphrey was in uniform for the Ravens.
Baltimore’s announced inactives were cornerbacks Keyon Martin and Amani Oruwariye, offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles and receiver Keith Kirkwood. Veteran Cooper Rush served as the Ravens’ third QB.
Celebrating America
The NFL is wishing America a happy 250th birthday.
With the calendar turning to 2026, the NFL is celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial with commemorative footballs and field markings. “America 250” was painted on the Acrisure Stadium turf along each sideline for Sunday’s game, and the NFL planned to include a commemorative logo on game balls beginning with this week’s games.
