Colts-Steelers announce Week 9 inactives: Desir out, Lewis and Wilson healthy scratches again; Who will step up with Hilton out of the lineup?

As the Indianapolis Colts travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in their Week 9 matchup, one of the main questions on the table is that of the team’s receiving corps being able to step up without T.Y. Hilton in the lineup.

Last week Deon Cain was a healthy scratch, and after coming back from injury, Parris Campbell managed only a single target with zero receptions against the Denver Broncos. With Devin Funchess still on the shelf, that leaves Zach Pascal, and Chester Rogers as the team’s top two from the WR position — neither of which have 15 total receptions on the season to this point.

Nyheim Hines, Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron, and even Marlon Mack will likely be more incorporated into the passing game-plan as a result, but one of the team’s WRs simply must step up in the offense’s time of need to prove they belong in order to smooth out the play-calling for Frank Reich.

Other questions still sit with the secondary, due to the practice report throughout the week with Malik Hooker being questionable before the game, and Pierre Desir being upgraded Saturday to questionable from doubtful. In addition to those concerning the secondary, there were still questions about Quincy Wilson due to his being inactive last week.

Given that those who filled in for him really weren’t any more impressive, how do the Colts feel about him this week was something we were also interested in finding out.

Well, now we have some answers... Kind of.

Cain and Campbell are both active, and will be relied upon to make some plays given that Rogers isn’t exactly a game-changer, and Pascal simply can’t shoulder the load by himself. Not to mention, the Colts can’t really keep from being predictable if they don’t step up. The In that tone, the Colts’ running game can’t be expected to dominate a stout Steelers’ defense all day.

Jacoby Brissett is going to have to spread the ball around, incorporating his tight ends, running backs and throwing his inexperienced receiving corps open against a very stingy defense that can get after the passer. Also, Reich is going to be tasked with creating his best gameplan to date in order to give Brissett those opportunities to succeed.

In other news regarding the team’s inactive list, despite being upgraded, Pierre Desir is still not going to suit up today which leaves the secondary without their top long corner against the Steelers. What’s more, Wilson will be a healthy scratch for consecutive weeks as well.

Here is the kicker for me, especially up front where Denico Autry has been the only real option to create interior pressure through recent weeks — Tyquan Lewis will again be inactive. It’s starting to look like the Colts’ decision makers aren’t all that impressed with something about Lewis since being a full participant in practice for two straight weeks following injury sidelining him.

Maybe it’s precaution, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way.

Outside of those revelations, the inactive list is pretty par for the course.

Here are the Steelers’ inactives for Week 9:

In case you don’t like their annoying process of forcing you to follow a link in order to see the list, here’s the list for you.

Steelers Inactives:

No. 5 QB Paxton Lynch, No. 24 RB Benny Snell Jr., No. 30 RB James Conner, No. 31 CB Justin Layne, No. 73 OL Ramon Foster, No. 81 TE Zach Gentry, No. 95 DE L.T. Walton