The Steelers will have a different look on their offensive line tonight with David DeCastro inactive after he was ruled out of the game on Saturday with a knee injury that has hampered him all through training camp.
With DeCastro out, look for Stefen Wisniewski to step in at the right guard spot and line up alongside new right tackle Zach Banner.
"When you talk about Stefen as a player, he knows all his X's and O's" said Banner. "Smart guy. Works really hard. He communicates well. I'm excited. We're both excited. It's one of those things where you put your hard hat on and show up to work next to each other."
Wisniewski was originally selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Raiders, one with the Jacksonville Jaguars and three with the Philadelphia Eagles, including being a starter on the Super Bowl LII team. He spent the majority of the 2019 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing in 11 regular season games and was the starter at left guard for the postseason, including Super Bowl LIV. During his career he played in 134 games, starting 103 of them, and switched from center to left guard when he signed with the Eagles in 2016.
"I have learned in my years in the NFL be ready for anything," said Wisniewski. "I am capable of being a starter in this league. I think I have proven that.
"I have started at left guard for two of the last three Super Bowl champions. Obviously, I am capable of doing that. I have been a backup as well. I am going to come to work every day with a great attitude no matter what my role is. If I am a backup, I am going to be ready to go every day if someone gets hurt and I am in there. I will do my best to teach young guys, help them with the game plan, scheme things up. I have been in a lot of good offenses, I will try to help with schemes, help coach and be ready to go whenever I am called on."
With Ben Roethlisberger back for his first game since missing the majority of the 2019 season, having a steady offensive line is a key, but offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner likes the way they are coming together.
"I think any time that you have a piece that gets changed up front, there's always that little bit of angst if you will, at least from my perspective," said Fichtner. "I don't think it's from their perspective. They work together. They have unique communication. (Maurkice) Pouncey ties that whole thing together. I think if you would have said Pouncey wasn't sitting here in the middle, then I'd probably say it's not angst, it's nervousness. That would be a lot greater type of feeling for me, but I do know that these guys are prepared. They're preparing themselves, and they've done a nice job."
Also inactive tonight are: Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running back Anthony McFarland, linebacker Ulysees Gilbert, defensive tackle Carlos Davis and tight end Zach Gentry.
Steelers Inactives
No. 5 QB Josh Dobbs
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
No. 54 LB Ulysees Gilbert III
No. 66 G David DeCastro
No. 73 DT Carlos Davis
No. 81 TE Zach Gentry
Giants Inactives
No. 15 WR Golden Tate
No. 35 LB T.J. Brunson
No. 47 LB Cam Brown
No. 48 LB Tae Crowder
No. 66 G Shane Lemieux
No. 72 OT Jackson Barton
No. 72 OT Jackson Barton
No. 90 DE RJ McIntosh
