The Steelers go into today's game against the Buffalo Bills without a few key pieces to the puzzle. Left tackle Broderick Jones was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Saturday due to a neck injury and defensive end Derrick Harmon is inactive due to knee injury.
But on the flip side, there is good news as to who is active.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns to the lineup this week. Rodgers suffered a broken wrist in the team's Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, missing the second half of that game and last week's game against the Chicago Bears.
"He was a full participant today with no designation for the game," said Coach Mike Tomlin on Friday. "So, it's all systems go."
Tomlin said it was the amount of work Rodgers was able to do this week that made him a go.
"Just more reps, certainly," said Tomlin. "But, certainly it's another week, and so I'm sure there's more comfort there, not only in him, but in the medical experts."
As far as those not playing, Jones suffered a neck injury in last week's game against the Chicago Bears, resulting in him landing on the Reserve/Injured List.
Without Jones, Tomlin said it will be veteran Andrus Peat at left tackle.
"You've got to prepare like you always prepare," said Peat. "Being a reserve, you've got to prepare like you're starting every week and just get in a good habit. So, I am preparing like I always do."
Peat has been inactive for all but one game this season, but experience is something he definitely doesn't lack.
Peat said there is an adjustment when you don't play most of the season to suddenly getting more reps in practice and possibly starting.
"Definitely," said Peat. "Going through the season you get into a rhythm the more games you play. I feel like I played 11 years, so I know what to do."
Peat, who signed with the Steelers during training camp, was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, spending nine seasons with them. He appeared in 111 games, with 102 starts for the Saints, and was named to the Pro Bowl three times (2018-2020).
Peat signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, appearing in 15 games, starting one.
"A lot of comfort with those guys," said Rodgers of Peat and fellow tackle Calvin Anderson. "I mean, obviously, Brod (Broderick Jones) has played really well for us. AP (Andrus Peat) has played a lot of football. A lot of confidence in Cal (Anderson) coming in, he's been a great swing for us. He practices with us all the time during the week, so we have a lot of confidence in both those guys."
With Harmon out, the Steelers could use a rotation at defensive end, with Yahya Black expected to see plenty of action.
"I just need to do my job," said Black. "It comes down to there's opportunity that's open and you have to just take a hold of it and run with it.
"There's an opportunity and there's guys that got to step up. And I'm one of them. So, we're all ready for it.
"I'm ready for it."
Black has been a huge addition to the defense since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He said what he hopes to bring is the same as what everyone else on the defensive line is bringing.
"I want to bring the same energy, the technique, the fundamentals," said Black. "That Steelers defense that I've really come to learn."
The team elevated Asante Samuel Jr. to the Active/Inactive Roster for today's game, while cornerback Darius Slay is inactive. Samuel was signed to the Steelers practice squad on Nov. 12.
Samuel was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Chargers, starting 47 of the 50 games he played in. Samuel appeared in only four games in 2024 after dealing with injuries.
In four seasons with the Chargers, he had six interceptions, 37 passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
Samuel played college football at Florida State where he appeared in 32 games. He recorded 96 tackles, 71 of them solo stops, 33 passes defensed, four interceptions, three tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
Samuel is the son of All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL and was a two-time Super Bowl champion.
The full list of inactives is below.
**Steelers Inactives
**No. 13 WR Scotty Miller
No. 18 QB Will Howard (3rd QB)
No. 23 CB Darius Slay
No. 91 DL Logan Lee
No. 99 DT Derrick Harmon
Bills Inactives
No. 5 WR Joshua Palmer
No. 8 LB Terrel Bernard
No. 46 CB Ja'Marcus Ingram
No. 72 DT Phidarian Mathis
No. 73 OL Dion Dawkins
No. 79 OL Spencer Brown
No. 86 TE Dalton Kincaid
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