Inactives: Ross sits again while Evans gets first NFL start; Antonio active

First-rounder John Ross continues to sit. Fourth-rounder Josh Malone continues to get a shot. Sixth-rounder Jordan Evans continues to expand his role.

Such is the state of a portion of the 2017 draft class when Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis handed in his inactive list before Monday night's game against the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium.


Lewis penciled in Evans for his first NFL start at SAM linebacker with starter Nick Vigil (ankle) and backup Vincent Rey (hamstring) inactive. He'll team with Vontaze Burfict in an effort to slow down red-hot Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell in both the pass and run games.

Ross didn't get on the field for the third straight game as a healthy scratch. But rookie running back Brian Hill did for the second time in his third week the club. That means more snaps for the other rookie receiver, Josh Malone, active for the fourth straight game after starting the last three as the third wide receiver.

Also inactive were starting safety Shawn Williams, out for the second straight week with a hamstring injury, as well as healthy scratches at backup cornerback in KeiVarae Russell and at backup guards in Alex Redmond and Christian Westerman.

Despite all the buzz about an injured toe that kept him out of two practices last week, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, the NFL leader, was active. Starting safety Mike Mitchell and edge pass rusher James Harris weren't.