It's been a long fall for Donte Moncrief through the first three weeks of the season.
The Steelers receiver will be inactive Sunday against the 49ers, the team announced.
Moncrief had three receptions for just seven yards on 10 targets against the Patriots in Week 1 and struggled again in Week 2 against the Seahawks as his lone target was tipped for an interception.
“People go through tough times at times, and sometimes you’re afforded an opportunity to give them a chance to recover, whether it’s in-game or in practice settings, but other times you have to move on,” coach Mike Tomlin told Bob Labriola on Friday for steelers.com.
“It’s just the nature of the business. He has been able to continue to be a part of us, and he’s working hard at practice to get his mojo back, but in the meanwhile we have expectations to meet and plays to make. So, we’re going with the guys who are consistently making them.”
With Moncrief out, Steelers second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph is left with JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington as his targets when he makes his first career start in San Francisco in place of injured veteran Ben Roethlisberger.
It also means rookie Diontae Johnson will make his first NFL start against the Niners.
“I am just trying to do what I can, I am part of the offense right now, starting, continue to show the coaches I know what I am doing,” Johnson said. “They just put me in and told me I am starting from here on out. I have to keep executing and making plays and help the team win.”
The Niners (2-0) host the Steelers (0-2) at 4:25 p.m. ET.