Outside linebacker Eku Leota is in line to make his Pittsburgh Steelers debut on Sunday after the NFL team elevated the former Auburn standout from their practice squad on Saturday.

Leota was called up with the Steelers missing three of their top four outside linebackers, with DeMarvin Leal on injured reserve and Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig ruled out of Sunday’s game with injuries.

Leota has been a member of Pittsburgh’s practice squad since Oct. 1.

Sunday’s game won’t be Leota’s 2024 debut, just his first game with the Steelers. Leota played in the first two games of the season for the Carolina Panthers, including starting the second one, and recorded three tackles for loss and one sack before being waived, re-signed for the team’s practice squad and released.

Two other Auburn alumni are eligible to make their 2024 NFL debuts on Sunday, and for running back D.J. Williams, it will be his first NFL game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevated Williams from their practice squad on Saturday. An undrafted rookie from Arizona, Williams ran for 583 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries for Auburn in his first two college seasons before playing for Florida State in 2021 and Arizona in 2022 and 2023.

Also elevated from a practice squad on Saturday was offensive lineman Jack Driscoll by the Philadelphia Eagles. Driscoll has played in 54 games, with 17 starts, over the past four seasons for the Eagles.

The Steelers play the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CDT, the Buccaneers play the New Orleans Saints at noon and the Eagles play the Cleveland Browns at noon on Sunday.

Each NFL team is allowed to elevate two members of its practice squad to active status for each game.

Two other players with Alabama football roots who were not eligible to play on Sunday when Saturday started are eligible now.

The Browns restored linebacker Mohamoud Diabate to their active roster. The former Auburn High School standout played in Cleveland’s season-opening game on Sept. 8, but he spent the past four games on injured reserve with a hip injury.

The Browns also elevated safety Chris Edmonds from their practice squad, making the Phenix City native eligible for his NFL debut. An undrafted rookie played at Samford before transferring to Arizona State for his final two college seasons.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.