By: Gabrielle DiPaula
OWINGS MILLS -- John Harbaugh announced on Monday the five of the seven that will be inactive on Sunday: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Mark Ingram (calf), Earl Thomas (knee/hand), RG Marshal Yanda, and DT Brandon Williams.
This game will allow some of the players that have been an inactive a chance to play. Players like QB Trace McSorley, WR Jaleel Scott, and G Ben Powers will have an opportunity to see action on Sunday against the Steelers. McSorley has not just been practicing with the Jackson and Robert Griffin III, but he has also been a participant on special teams.
“That's a possibility. If that situation comes up, I'd like to get him out there, if I can," special teams coordinator Chris Horton said on Thursday. "If I can't, he's been working hard. He's been doing everything we ask him to do, so if that comes up, you could see him out there.”
McSorley may take snaps on special teams or depending on the situation of the game he could be make an appearance under center.
“Trace [McSorley], there's a chance Trace could play in this game. We'll have to see how it goes," offensive coordinator Greg Roman said on Thursday. "We'll kind of get together later this week and figure out kind of how we want to do things. But Trace is another young guy that we’re really excited about. I love how he played in the preseason. He started a game or two in the preseason, and I really like where he's going, too.”
Powers has been a healthy scratch this season. An opportunity like this in Week 17 for a rookie to possibly see some action in his first professional game is rare.
"I’m excited. It's something I have been looking forward to all season," Ben Powers said on Thursday. "I've been sitting back waiting for my time and now it's my time. Get a chance to play a little bit and I'm excited for that." Powers was the fourth round pick (123rd overall) of the 2019 draft. He has been a gameday inactive through the entire season.
Scott was selected by Baltimore in the fourth round (132nd overall) in the 2018 draft. He spent the entire 2018 season on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.
"It's pretty exciting helping my teammates out to push this play off run," WR Jaleel Scott said on Thursday. "I'm pretty excited to get going." Scott has been another gameday inactive besides Weeks 6 and 7 when he saw action on special teams.
Jackson had a different role this week. Since he will be sidelined for the last game of the regular season he had to help the different in another way.
"He did today, yes. He was doing drills earlier in the week, a lot of one-on-one stuff, fundamental work, and then he ran scout team today, yes. He looks good. It was a good look. (laughter). He made some plays." (laughter).The Steelers announced that RB James Connor (quad) and C Maurkice Pouncey (knee) will not be playing in Sundays' game. Connor made his return in Week 15 after being sidelined for the past 5 weeks with a shoulder injury. He rushed for 42 yards on 8 carries and caught a 11-yard TD pass from QB Devlin "Duck" Hodges that gave Pittsburgh a 10-7 lead in the third quarter. In the loss to the Jets in Week 16, Connor only played 9 snaps. This is Pouncey's first game he has missed since the two-game suspension after the Week 11 loss to Cleveland.