The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to find a way ahead without Kwon Alexander.
The veteran inside linebacker’s season is likely finished due to what coach Mike Tomlin described as a “serious” left leg injury sustained in the first quarter of a 23-19 win over Green Bay.
Alexander, who had succeeded in Pittsburgh since signing a one-year contract with the Steelers in July, was diving into coverage when he tumbled to the ground. He was able to walk off the field on his own, but was immediately brought to the locker room for testing and ruled out.
Tomlin stated that Alexander was being reviewed, but that it was “not promising.”
The nine-year veteran soon bonded with Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, and the three became basically interchangeable while splitting snaps fairly evenly.
Holcomb’s season ended last week after he suffered a knee injury in a win over Tennessee. Alexander will now join Holcomb on injured reserve, meaning two of Pittsburgh’s top five tacklers entering Sunday are out for the season. Alexander’s 41 tackles was fifth on the squad, behind Roberts (48) and Holcomb (54).
Pittsburgh (6-3) will now have to rely on Roberts as the team’s sole veteran inside linebacker. Mark Robinson, a second-year player, recorded three tackles against the Packers in an expanded role with Alexander out, while Roberts will wear the green dot inside his helmet that conveys the play call from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Roberts has worn the dot before, in New England and Miami. Now, he finds himself as the older statesman in a position that has essentially been a revolving door for the Steelers since Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending spine injury toward the end of the 2017 season.
The list of players who have been brought in over the last five years includes Mark Barron, Jon Bostic, Myles Jack and Devin Bush. None have stuck. The Steeler hit the reset button in the offseason, signing Holcomb to a three-year deal, Roberts to a two-year deal and taking a flyer on the charismatic and physical Alexander after he had a solid 2022 for the New York Jets.
“He’s a quality, veteran player,” Tomlin said of Roberts. “He’s a good communicator. He takes the run game personally. Those are the reasons why we acquired him in free agency and he’s consistently provided that.”
Inside linebacker isn’t the only position the Steelers are hurting. All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury, and Keanu Neal went down late with a rib injury after picking off Green Bay’s Jordan Love.
That left Trenton Thompson, a practice squad player, to make his second NFL appearance in the final minutes as the Packers tried — and failed — to score the go-ahead touchdown.
“We were leaking in a lot of places today, but next man up,” said veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson, who blocked an extra point and tipped the pass that Neal intercepted in the end zone. “Coaches believe in guys who have an opportunity to (be activated) in a game. We’ve got to trust in each other. Get in there and (play football).”
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