It was exactly 13 months ago Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers won a game despite their defense relying heavily on three players from which little had been expected.

The Steelers will face a similar situation Sunday.

Three defensive players currently on the practice squad are expected to be part of the gameday lineup for Sunday’s AFC North showdown at the Cleveland Browns. Season-ending injuries to two starting-caliber inside linebackers and shorter-term injuries to two starting-caliber safeties are necessitating the deployment of inside linebackers Mykal Walker and Tariq Carpenter and safety Trenton Thompson for Sunday’s game.

“You never get used to it,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said of playing without important players, “but you are always prepared for it. And I think Coach T (Mike Tomlin) prepares us that you are a starter in waiting. You are not a bench guy and this is your opportunity this season.”

Thompson and Carpenter each were practice-squad elevations for this past Sunday’s win against the Green Bay Packers. Walker is by far the most experienced of the trio but was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad just 18 days ago so he’s the newest to the organization.

Walker said he was told he would be in uniform against the Browns. Thompson said coaches told him he will start at safety. Strong indications are Carpenter will play, too.

Thompson’s chance came because All Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss a third consecutive game because of a hamstring injury and co-starter Keanu Neal will miss the Cleveland game because of a rib ailment. The moves involving Walker and Carpenter were necessitated because inside linebackers Cole Holcomb (knee) and Kwon Alexander (Achilles) suffered season-ending injuries in consecutive games.

“I just haven’t played all year, so no matter what the challenge was, I was going to be ready for the opportunity,” said Walker, who had 49 games (20 starts) of NFL experience. “In this business, when the opportunity gets called there’s no excuses — you got to go and be ready, and I have to go.”

Assuming Walker, Thompson and Carpenter combine for significant contributions on defense against the Browns it will be reminiscent for the Steelers of the Oct. 16, 2022, game when against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; the Steelers deployed Josh Jackson, Quincy Wilson and Elijah Riley in the secondary.

All had been released by other teams and signed by the Steelers after the preseason ended. But Jackson started that Bucs game, Wilson’s appearance would be the only playing time he would see for the Steelers, and Riley’s action was the first he’d played on defense for the Steelers (to this day, one of only five games he’s played on defense for them).

The Steelers won that game.

Could history repeat itself Sunday? All three of Thompson (Aug. 2), Carpenter (Sept. 2) and Walker (Oct. 30) joined the Steelers after camp began. Carpenter has all of 16 career defensive NFL snaps played (late last season for Green Bay), Walker has been cut by three teams in recent months and Thompson’s only NFL regular-season action on defense came on the final seven snaps of last week’s game after Neal was injured.

“I view it as just go out there and do my job not make it bigger than it is,” said Thompson, who as an undrafted rookie last season appeared in one game (special teams only) for the New York Giants. “And then play football, without over-thinking.”

The Steelers haven’t formally announced any of the moves involving Walker, Carpenter or Thompson for Sunday. Moves are expected to be announced prior to 4 p.m. Saturday. League rules allow for only two “call-ups” per game, so one of the three will need to be added to the 53-man roster.

The Steelers have two open spots on their 53-man roster, but one is likely being held for when tight end Pat Freiermuth comes off injured reserve (expected to be this weekend).

Players are limited by rule to three practice-squad elevations per season; Carpenter and Thompson each burned one against the Packers.

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