Steelers ILB Elandon Roberts Returns to Practice, Status Still Uncertain for Thursday

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Elandon Roberts practiced with the team, on Tuesday, just two days after suffering a groin injury that forced him from the team’s 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but his status for this Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots remains very much up in the air.

Roberts confirmed that he did participate in Tuesday’s practice, but said that it was only a walkthrough. He’s unsure if he will be able to suit up when the team has its only full-speed practice of the week on Wednesday.

“We’ll take it one day at a time,” Roberts said. “I’ve got one more day.”

A short week is not a time that a lot of players that have suffered injuries try to make their way back onto the field, but Roberts said the calendar dictates it. There aren’t many opportunities left.

“It’s December,” he said. “I’m thinking fast.”

Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts during a game against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The Steelers also really need to get Robinson back on the field. They’ve already lost both of their other two starters at inside linebacker for the season due to injury. Since Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander went down, Robinson has been holding the center of the Steelers defense together, and it’s clear that without him on the field on Sunday, things started to fall apart.

Mykal Walker started opposite Roberts the last few weeks and did well, but he and Mark Robinson couldn’t replicate that success without Roberts. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that he expects Blake Martinez and Myles Jack to contribute this week.

Those two both came out of retirement earlier this season before joining the Steelers. Martinez first signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad, where the Steelers plucked him from three weeks ago. Jack was on the Philadelphia Eagles’ retired list before getting his release late last month.