The announcement of pregame inactives brought a couple of unexpected developments for the Seahawks. Linebacker Bruce Irvin, who was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report with a knee injury, will play. Cornerback Cary Williams, who had started all 10 games at right corner up to this point, is inactive a week after being replaced by DeShawn Shead late in the game against San Francisco.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said during the week that Williams, Shead, and perhaps even Jeremy Lane, who was just activated off the physically unable to perform list, will compete for the starting job opposite Richard Sherman. So for this week at least, that job will go to Shead or perhaps to Lane, who as expected was added to the roster on Saturday.
"It should bring out the best in everybody," Carroll said of the competition at cornerback. "That's the whole idea. Everybody's got to feel it to find their best. Feel the pressure of it, and the stress, and the competitive point of it. That's why we've lived with that for a long time."
Irvin, who sustained an MCL injury in Seattle's loss to Arizona, missed last week's game, and was not expected to play again this week, but after going through a pregame workout, it was determined he was ready to go. Receiver Paul Richardson, who injured his hamstring in that Arizona game, is inactive again as expected, as is running back Marshawn Lynch, who is recovering from surgery on an abdominal injury.
Center Patrick Lewis, who was questionable with an ankle injury, is active and expected to get the start.
Seahawks inactives
WR Paul Richardson
CB Tye Smith
RB Marshawn Lynch
CB Cary Williams
LB Eric Pinkins
C Drew Nowak
C/G Kristjan Sokoli
Steelers inactives
QB Mike Vick
WR Sammie Coates
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
CB Doran Grant
LB Anthony Chickillo
OT Byron Stingily
DE L.T. Walton
