The Steelers go into today's game once again missing key components on their defense.
Cornerback Darius Slay and linebackers Alex Highsmith and Cole Holcomb are all inactive after being ruled out on Friday.
Slay is still in the concussion protocol after leaving last Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With Slay out, look for several players to be called upon, including James Pierre.
"He's a true pro," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "I remember James was a COVID guy. Got here, just got him in camp. All he did when he got here, he'd make a play, make a play. We tried to elevate him earlier, he struggled a little bit.
"Because of the way he works and the way he approaches things, that wasn't a setback for him. I think that's why you see when we put him into games now as a veteran, he's really able to be impactful for us. We don't really miss a beat.
"It's good to see that with him. It's really a good lesson for all young players, that you're never defined by what happens early in your career. Just depends on how you work and how you approach things, that you can turn things around and be a really productive guy and play a lot of years in this league."
Pierre is ready for whatever is asked of him.
"Just week to week," said Pierre. "You've got to get right. Another week for us to get right."
Coach Mike Tomlin was impressed with the performance of Pierre, a player he didn't even get to know when they first signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2020.
"I thought he played really well, but I thought he's played really well when called upon all year," said Tomlin. "I think it's reflective of how he prepares and the level of professionalism that he brings day in and day out.
"It's been cool to watch the growth and development of his career over the time that he's been here. If you remember, he was an undrafted COVID guy. I think globally it was single-digit guys that made rosters undrafted that COVID year, and he's been one of them.
"I didn't meet him until we reported to camp, and that's a memory. He's always available. He's a dynamic special teams player. He's a rising defender, particularly in 2025."
Pierre was asked about his rookie season and coming in during COVID as Austin and Tomlin referenced and said it is crazy looking back at it.
"It was majorly difficult because we didn't have preseason, we didn't have anything. We didn't even have fans that year. So just coming in, I knew I had to be ready to do something, help out the team, because we had to get ready for games.
"So, I had to see how I can fit in, see how I can help the team."
Another player who could see increased snaps is cornerback Brandin Echols, but he said that won't change his approach as he always prepares the same.
"I just try to keep it the same as I always do," said Echols. "Just focus on the main thing, try to get the job done."
The secondary the Bengals will face today is one that is different than the first time the two teams met, with Jalen Ramsey now at free safety full-time and Kyle Dugger at strong safety.
"We're going to go out and attack them with our best foot forward, regardless of who's where," said Echols. "It's just a matter of making plays. That's all that is."
Highsmith is inactive due to a pectoral injury suffered against the Chargers, while Holcomb is still dealing with an illness that has sidelined him for three weeks.
Highsmith dealt with a groin injury earlier in the season and said this latest injury is frustrating.
"It's just frustrating for something like this to pop up because I'm someone who really takes care of my body and does a lot extra to make sure these things don't happen," said Highsmith. "I just have to continue to rehab. It's frustrating because I care and I do a lot. I put a lot of work into my body, so I just have to continue to rehab and get it right."
The Steelers elevated defensive back D'Shawn Jamison and linebacker Mark Robinson from the practice squad to the Active/Inactive Roster for today's game.
Jamison was signed to a Reserve/Future contract at the end of the 2024 season and spent training camp and the preseason with the team in 2025. Jamison spent time on the Steelers practice squad during the 2024 season.
Jamison originally signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers and appeared in 15 games for the Panthers in 2023, starting two. He finished the season with five tackles, three of them solo stops, and one pass defensed.
Robinson, who was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 4, was also elevated for the Week 10 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has spent time on the team's active roster and practice squad, before being released at the start of the 2025 seasons.
The full list of inactives is below.
*Steelers Inactives *
No. 18 QB Will Howard (3rd QB)
No. 23 CB Darius Slay
No. 55 LB Cole Holcomb
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 71 G Andrus Peat
No. 78 DT Brodric Martin-Rhodes
No. 91 DL Logan Lee
Bengals Inactives
No. 4 QB Sean Clifford (3rd QB)
No. 24 CB Marco Wilson
No. 34 HB Samaje Perine
No. 81 WR Jermaine Burton
No. 85 TE Cam Grandy
No. 91 DE Trey Hendrickson
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