Why Has Derek Moye Been Inactive?

Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Consider me as one of the many who were surprised to see Derek Moye’s name on the Steelers’ lists of “inactives” during each of the last two weeks.

Moye actually led the Steelers in receiving during preseason play, and he even looked like a competent red zone weapon when he snared a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger at Paul Brown Stadium last month. Of course, with Heath Miller returning to the lineup against the Bears and Cortez Allen returning against the Vikings, people had to be demoted from the active roster.

I just assumed that it would be others who would be forced to ride the pine on game days instead of the former Penn State Nittany Lion.

I was certainly befuddled at Pittsburgh’s decision to not utilize their athletic 6’5” wide receiver in the red zone and on special teams instead of others on the roster during the last two weeks. You know, the same offense which has had trouble converting red zone opportunities into “sixes” during the last couple of seasons.

Heath Miller did not look like his old self running that goal line fade last weekend in London, and I barely saw David Paulson and Michael Palmer on the field against the Bears and the Vikings since David Johnson had all but passed them on the depth chart.

Neither Paulson nor Palmer have the ability to impact the Steelers’ offense, particularly in the red zone passing game, as positively as Moye has the potential to at the moment. Plus, how is adding some size to an already “smurfish” receiving corps a negative thing?

Most of all however, I would just like to know the reason why Derek Moye has been on the “inactives” list lately.

I mean, what purpose it is really serving this team and their young wide receiver to have him riding the bench during an already “lost” 0-4 campaign?

Of course, expecting a competent and logical answer is probably not something I could count on with the way Pittsburgh’s coaching staff have handled their team and personnel recently.

Stats & Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com and Pro Football Reference

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