With the Steelers nearing an initial 53-man roster, it’s time to consider potential candidates for the Reserve/Injured List, or IR. Teams may place up to two players on IR on cutdown day without the requirement that they be on the initial 53-man roster. However, they could still place more than two on IR if they do carry them on the roster.
Players placed on IR directly without being on the 53 are immediately given return designations. That’s a factor the Steelers must consider, for example, with Will Howard, as they did last year when they kept Logan Lee on the initial 53 before later moving him to IR.