For the second consecutive week, two players that were expected to play significant roles for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this season will not even dress — rookie running back Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Roman Wilson.
The Steelers announced an hour and a half before kickoff Monday night Wilson and Johnson will be inactive. The Steelers are hosting the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round.
Mike Tomlin’s club also included cornerback Tre Flowers, linebacker Jeremiah Moon, offensive tackle Jack Driscoll, defensive tackle Logan Lee and quarterback Will Howard on their inactive list for the contest.
Howard will serve as the team’s emergency No. 3 quarterback.
If the Steelers defeat the Texans, they will advance to the AFC divisional round next weekend. The Steelers will face the New England Patriots.
The kickoff time of that potential matchup is still to be determined. However, the NFL announced Sunday night it will be Sunday, January 18.
Steelers Make Kaleb Johnson, Roman Wilson Inactive vs. Texans
It’s not shocking the Steelers have elected to not dress either Johnson or Wilson for the playoff matchup. But just looking at the big picture, it’s disappointing neither player met his preseason expectations.
Johnson hasn’t played much since he muffed a kickoff in Week 2. The running back was a healthy scratch in the final three regular season games.
Johnson finished the regular season with 69 yards on 28 carries. He averaged 2.5 yards per carry.
The rookie also had one catch for nine receiving yards.
Wilson has dressed one time since November 30. In that contest, he played nine offensive snaps and didn’t receive a target.
The second-year receiver posted 12 receptions for 166 receiving yards with two touchdowns during the regular season. Both of his scores came at the end of lopsided blowout losses.
Hopefully, both young players are still a major part of the Steelers future. But of course, player development isn’t on the coaching staff’s mind at the moment.
The Steelers will try to defeat the Texans on Monday night to win their first playoff game in nine years. Since then, the Steelers have lost six consecutive postseason contests.
The Texans enter the matchup on a nine-game winning streak. The Steelers, though, have won 23 straight home games on Monday Night Football.
Steelers Also Leave CB Tre Flowers Inactive
The Steelers put Flowers through quite an ordeal with several roster moves over the past week. The end result for Flowers, though, is the same as the two young playmakers — he won’t play Monday night.
Last Monday, the Steelers released Flowers from their active roster to make space for wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. The wideout returned from his suspension that day and received reinstatement.
After he cleared waivers, the Steelers then signed Flowers to their practice squad.
Monday afternoon, the Steelers elevated Flowers from the practice squad to the active roster. But with everyone healthy in the secondary, the Steelers would have needed to make one of their regular defensive backs inactive for Flowers to play.
In all likelihood, the Steelers promoted Flowers from the practice squad Monday afternoon just as a precaution. That precaution was not needed.
Flowers joined the Steelers in late December. Also in his first year with the team, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be making his Pittsburgh postseason debut versus the Texans.
It’s possible the contest will also be Rodgers’s final game in the league.
Steelers Make Final Call on Kaleb Johnson, Roman Wilson & Others for Playoff Game