The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to move on from Elandon Roberts at roster cutdown time stands out as the clearest misstep of the bunch.
Heading into the 53-man deadline, Roberts looked like a safe bet to stick. The 32-year-old signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh the day before the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, and he backed that up with a strong showing in exhibition play. Then came the surprise: Roberts was released.
That move is hard to square, especially when you look at the state of the Steelers’ inside linebacker room in 2025. Patrick Queen led the league in missed tackles with 31, according to Pro Football Focus, and spent most of the season looking far less effective than expected. Payton Wilson also failed to make the leap Pittsburgh wanted in his second NFL season, still having issues stopping the run and not making enough of an impact in coverage despite his athletic upside.
Behind them, Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison - who was also cut - gave the Steelers some usable depth, particularly against the run, but they couldn’t cover up the bigger problem at the position. Carson Bruener, meanwhile, played just one defensive snap.
Roberts, even if he’s getting close to the end, still brings exactly the kind of presence Pittsburgh could use in the middle. He’s physical, dependable, and able to set the tone against the run. He was a fan favorite during his first run with the Steelers in 2023-2024, and he also started 16 of the Las Vegas Raiders’ 17 games last season under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Back in Pittsburgh this preseason and working again under Graham, Roberts made 10 tackles across two games and looked like the same player. That’s what makes the cut so puzzling: he was still producing, and the Steelers still had a clear need at the spot.
Maybe the organization believes Queen and Wilson can bounce back in a new system, with Holcomb and Bruener supplying enough support behind them. Even so, letting Roberts go feels like a gamble that could go wrong quickly.
There is at least one practical wrinkle here. Because Roberts is a vested veteran with four or more accured seasons, he is not subject to waivers and cannot be claimed by another team. That means a return to Pittsburgh would be easier to pull off if the Steelers want to go that route.
It’s even possible the two sides have already worked out some kind of handshake understanding to reconnect once the team makes more moves. But Steelers legend James Harrison poured some cold water on that idea, saying, "Don't count on it!" when asked about Roberts potentially coming back.
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