Despite missing key defensive starters like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Elandon Roberts, the Steelers were sitting at a 7-7 record and facing a game against the Bengals, leaving their playoff hopes uncertain. However, the team managed to pull off three consecutive wins, with quarterback Mason Rudolph receiving well-deserved praise for his performance. The team also welcomed new players, Eric Rowe and Myles Jack, who were signed to the practice squad in November and have made significant contributions to the team’s success. Rowe has started the past three games at strong safety, while Jack has appeared in the past three games, starting one. Both players have played pivotal roles in the Steelers’ recent wins, despite not being on the 53-man roster. The NFL’s expanded practice squad sizes and game-day callup rule have allowed for more veteran players to be stashed on the practice squad in case of emergency situations. Although practice squad players are only permitted to be a game-day activation three times during the regular season, this rule is waived during the playoffs.
Jack and Rowe are currently on the Steelers’ practice squad, but it’s highly likely that they’ll be called up before Sunday’s playoff game in Buffalo. Despite the fact that Rowe is a nine-year veteran who has started in playoff games and Super Bowls during his time with the Patriots, and Jack is an eight-year veteran who was released by the Steelers in the offseason, both players see the big picture and are willing to accept their current positions.
Rowe was initially with Carolina earlier this season but was released and signed to their practice squad before being released again. He had to face the possibility that his NFL career might be over, but the Steelers signed him after a couple of workouts with other teams didn’t work out. Jack, on the other hand, was released by the Steelers prior to the start of the 2023 offseason and signed with Philadelphia in training camp before announcing his retirement from football. The Steelers called him back when two of the players signed to help replace him were injured, and Jack wasn’t bitter. He blamed himself for his release and worked hard to get back into the game.
Both players have established themselves as important pieces of the Steelers’ defense and could still be a factor against the Bills. Rowe has impressed on the back end of the defense, while Jack is working in a rotation at inside linebacker.
Both players are taking a relaxed approach to the game, knowing what it’s like to be out of the game. They don’t want to experience that feeling again. Rowe expressed his frustration with sitting at home, knowing he was better than some of the players on rosters. But now that he’s playing, he’s taking it one game at a time, not worrying about the outcome. The Steelers have added veteran depth throughout the offseason, which often goes unnoticed, but it makes a big difference in tough games. The team has quality young players, but having veterans to bring off the bench lessens the pressure on them and allows them to work their way into bigger roles organically. The Steelers have played well this season, going 5-3 against playoff teams and 8-5 against teams with winning records. The weather forecast for the upcoming game in Buffalo calls for snow and chilly temperatures, but the wind could be the biggest factor, with gusts up to 52 miles per hour. Finally, the Steelers have a good record on the road in the postseason, with a winning percentage of .409, which is the third-best in the NFL since 1970.
