The Steelers’ first notable roster cut ahead of the 53-man deadline came at inside linebacker, where Pittsburgh moved on from Elandon Roberts, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Roberts, 32, had just signed a one-year deal with the Steelers on August 12, one day before the team opened preseason play against the Green Bay Packers. He did not take the field in that game, but he was active in the next two exhibitions against the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
Over those two appearances, Roberts played 81 snaps, including 71 on defense, per Pro Football Focus. He finished with 10 total tackles and seemed to be building a strong case for a roster spot, especially given how late he entered the mix.
The fit made sense on paper. Roberts had worked under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, and he also spent time with Pittsburgh in 2023 and 2024. That history made it easy to believe he’d stick around and carve out a real role in the linebacker rotation.
Instead, the Steelers went another direction. Roberts is a vested veteran, so he is not subject to waivers. Whether he returns to Pittsburgh’s practice squad or catches on with another team on a 53-man roster is still up in the air.
The move leaves Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson in line to absorb most of the snaps at inside linebacker, just as they did in 2025. Roberts had still managed to log 478 defensive snaps alongside that pair in 2024, and he could have filled a similar job this season if he had stayed.
There’s still a chance the Steelers and Roberts could reconnect if he doesn’t find another landing spot, especially since he remained a free agent right up until the start of the preseason.
For now, though, his exit clears the path for Cole Holcomb. Holcomb, who re-signed with Pittsburgh on a two-year, $5 million deal in March, had been sitting on the roster bubble after Roberts arrived. Now he looks like the No. 3 inside linebacker behind Queen and Wilson.
Carson Bruener also appears safely on track for the 53-man roster after a strong preseason. He’s been a factor on special teams and has flashed enough on defense to help his case.
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