It was the surprise of roster cutdown day when the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with veteran inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. After signing late in camp and returning to the team following a season in Las Vegas, Roberts seemed like a sure bet to make the team. He didn’t.
The Steelers opted to keep seven defensive linemen and four middle linebackers. Roberts was the odd man out, until now. Mike McCarthy confirmed during his weekly press conference on Monday that Roberts is rejoining the Steelers on the practice
squad.
“I enjoyed him in training camp. I thought he did a nice job,” McCarthy said. “I think the timing was a little bit to do with his opportunity… We’re trying to get better. He’s a veteran who has done great things throughout his career. This man just wants to win. Can’t have enough people like that.”
Roberts, 32, played in the Steelers’ final two preseason games against the Jets and Bills, making four tackles in each.
He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Pittsburgh before playing in Patrick Graham’s defense during Graham’s final year as the defensive coordinator in Vegas.
Roberts recorded 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery in 17 games (16 starts) with the Raiders. He registered 147 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks in 33 games with the Steelers.
The Steelers don’t have much depth behind Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, especially with Carson Bruener’s primary role on special teams. “The tooth chipper” is a solid run defender, especially at the goal line, that can help a run defense that ranks tied for 13th in the league (103.4).
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