Steelers Lose Kwon Alexander for Season

Steelers inside linebacker Kwon Alexander is out for the season with an Achilles injury, and the team has officially placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday. The injury happened early during the team’s game against the Green Bay Packers, and he joins Cole Holcomb, who suffered a knee injury against the Titans, as a guy who will be out for the season at that spot.

Alexander could get to his feet and walked off under his own power and was initially listed as questionable to return. Alexander was taken to the locker room for further evaluation and ruled out of the game. Now, he will be out for the rest of the season. Pittsburgh still has two roster spots open, with Alexander now on injured reserve.

With Alexander out early in the game, Elandon Roberts stepped up as the team’s green dot communicator for the defense, and Mark Robinson stepped into a starting role. An eighth-year vet, Roberts has been a key cog against the run for the Steelers all season but was asked to take a larger role on Sunday.

Alexander joined the Steelers on a one-year contract after the start of training camp. In nine games this season, he has 41 tackles, which is fourth on the team. He also has five tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and one pass defended.

With Alexander down, the team will turn to Mykal Walker and Tariq Carpenter to come up from the practice squad and help the group. Robinson and Roberts seem in line to start, and with two practice squad spots open as well, there could be more help coming from the outside. Mike Tomlin expressed confidence in his group to get after it and weather the storm. Pittsburgh hopes that can relay through and they can continue to get high level play from the group.