The Pittsburgh Steelers made a wild move on roster cutdown day, parting ways with veteran inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. Everyone thought he was a lock after signing late in camp and coming back from a year in Las Vegas, but nope. They kept seven defensive linemen and four middle linebackers, and Roberts was out. Until now, that is. Head Coach Mike McCarthy just dropped the news during his Monday press conference: Roberts is officially rejoining the Steelers on the practice squad.
What Made Roberts the Odd Man Out , And Why He’s Back
McCarthy was pretty clear about the situation, saying, “I enjoyed him in training camp. I thought he did a nice job.” He even hinted that the initial cut might have been about “timing” and Roberts looking for another opportunity. But now, Pittsburgh is trying to get better, and Roberts is a “veteran who has done great things throughout his career.” And here’s the kicker: “This man just wants to win. Can’t have enough people like that.” You gotta love that attitude. Roberts is 32, so he’s not a rookie, but his drive is clearly still there.
He actually played in the final two preseason games, racking up four tackles against both the Jets and the Bills. Roberts spent 2023 and 2024 with the Steelers before heading to Patrick Graham’s defense in Vegas for Graham’s final year as coordinator. While with the Raiders, he had a solid 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery in 17 games, starting 16 of them. And during his first stint in Pittsburgh? He posted 147 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks across 33 games. Those are real numbers.
“The Tooth Chipper” Fills a Need for the Run D
Let’s be real, the Steelers don’t have a ton of depth behind Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson at middle linebacker. Especially with Carson Bruener locked into special teams duty, Roberts fills a critical void. McCarthy himself called him “The tooth chipper,” and he’s a serious run defender, especially near the goal line. That’s huge for a run defense that’s currently tied for 13th in the league, giving up 103.4 yards per game. You want to see that number come down, and Roberts can help.
The team just pulled off their “most complete performance of the year” on offense in Week 5, and they’re gaining some respect in the Week 6 power rankings. They’re even slim favorites against the Buccaneers this week, though they’ll be without Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek. Getting a guy like Roberts back, a veteran who just wants to win and can shore up the run defense, that’s the kind of move that can make a difference as the season rolls on. Look for “The tooth chipper” to make an impact when he gets his chance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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