Steelers Get Big News with Return of Injured Linebacker

PITTSBURGH — Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts is back at practice. After a pectoral injury sidelined him against the Seahawks, Roberts made his return to practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday as the team continued its preparation for its Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Roberts did not practice on Tuesday. The team has not yet released an injury report for Wednesday, but their presence in the early portion of practice makes it seem likely those players will at least be listed as limited participants on Wednesday. On Wednesday after practice, Roberts said they are taking it day by day, but that he feels good.

“I’m still taking it one day at a time, but I felt good today,” Roberts said. “I felt really good. It’s about how I feel going to tomorrow and feel better. Now, getting back to practice, I have to get my feet back under me and stuff like that, but I’m feeling confident.”

The Steelers will have one more practice on Thursday before their game against the Ravens, with a playoff spot potentially on the line. They will make their final injury designations for the game Thursday afternoon.

Roberts would not expand on what exactly the injury is, but he did give a promising report, and that was to not count him out just yet last week.

“I’m taking it one day at a time, but you know me. Don’t count me out,” Roberts said.

Roberts has been critical to the Steelers’ defensive efforts this season. He started the year as the third linebacker in rotation with Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander, but when the two of them went down with season-ending injuries in Weeks 8 and 9, Roberts became a full-time starter and dragged a rotating cast of characters along with him at the position.