The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking zero chances with their secondary in the AFC wild card round. That became clear with the Steelers making a move with cornerbacks Tre Flowers and D’Shawn Jamison hours before kickoff against the Houston Texans.
The Steelers announced they have elevated both Flowers and Jamison from their practice squad for Monday night’s postseason contest. Both are eligible to dress and will return to the team’s practice squad after the game.
With Flowers and Jamison, the Steelers have two extra cornerbacks that could play versus Houston.
The Steelers-Texans matchup will kick off at 8:15 pm ET on ESPN.
Steelers Elevate CBs Tre Flowers, D’Shawn Jamison From the Practice Squad
It’s rather unusual for an NFL team to elevate two players at the same position from the practice squad. It’s often more prudent to place a player on injured reserve and then sign a practice squad player to the active roster.
The Steelers have a healthy collection of cornerbacks on their active roster. Defensive backs James Pierre and Brandin Echols, though, were out two weeks ago.
So, the Steelers might be using their wild card practice squad elevations on ensuring they have extra cornerback depth in case Pierre and/or Echols sustain an injury setback Monday.
During the regular season, NFL teams have a limited amount of practice squad elevations per player. Therefore, there’s reason to be prudent with them.
But in the playoffs, teams can promote players from the practice squad as often as they’d like. There’s no downside for the Steelers elevating either player.
The Steelers have made a few different roster moves with Flowers since Week 18. On January 5, the team waived the veteran cornerback from the 53-man roster to create space for wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. The wideout was returning from the ineligible list with the end of his suspension.
After the cornerback cleared waivers, the Steelers then signed Flowers back to their practice squad.
The Steelers first signed Flowers on December 25. He played in Week 17 for Pittsburgh. During that contest, he lined up for two special teams snaps.
Jamison has been on the Steelers practice squad the entire 2025 campaign. Jamison played 11 special teams snaps in three contests during the regular season.
He dressed for each of Pittsburgh’s last two games.
Flowers, Jamison Not Guaranteed to Dress in Wild Card Matchup
The Steelers are being precautious with the elevation of two cornerbacks from the practice squad. In fact, it’s such a proactive move that both Flowers and Jamison still might not play.
That’s what Steelers Depot argued on X minutes after the practice squad elevation announcement.
“One thing to note, the elevation of Tre Flowers from the practice squad today might just be precautionary against someone getting hurt in warmups,” Steelers Depot wrote. “There are unlimited elevations during the preseason. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry and go ahead and elevate the max of two players.
“In short, Flowers still might be inactive tonight.”
The Steelers had a completely healthy injury report Saturday. Typically, practice squad elevations are made to replace players who are going to be inactive but aren’t on injured reserve.
The Steelers don’t appear to have any of those players. So, it would make sense for the team not to make any practice squad elevations. The team’s roster is full and set.
But again, with unlimited elevations in the postseason, there’s no downside to promoting players from the practice squad. The Steelers chose to elevate players at a position that has recently experienced injuries.
Flowers and Jamison could very well be listed among the team’s inactive players when that becomes official 90 minutes before kickoff.
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