Elandon Roberts had seemed secure as part of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker group throughout this offseason and thus his release during final roster cuts during 2026 came as quite an abrupt shock – even to Steelers legend James Harrison! Harrison shared his disbelief by publicly proclaiming he wasn’t sure they made the correct choice in cutting Elandon Roberts from their lineup.
Harrison expressed their surprise and hope they don’t come to regret this move, “Because this wasn’t on my radar at all; and hearing you say they brought in this man as camp body is definitely contrary to what it seemed like when he arrived – we will soon know whether this decision was successful when they take on Bijan in Week 1,” as stated on social media by Harrison.
Roberts joined Pittsburgh on August 13 with a one-year contract and showed promise during the limited preseason action in which he participated. He logged significant defensive snaps across the games he played, demonstrating his capability on the field.
Originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round in 2016, Roberts defied expectations to carve out a meaningful role on their defense and earned two Super Bowl rings during his time there. After the 2019 season, he moved on to the Miami Dolphins before landing in Pittsburgh for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
In his first season with the Steelers, Roberts made notable contributions amid a defense challenged by injuries, tallying 68 tackles and 10 tackles for loss while starting 15 games. Although his playing time diminished in 2024, he still appeared in all 17 games.
Surprisingly, after the 2024 season, Pittsburgh decided to part ways with Roberts, opting to bring in younger talent at inside linebacker with Malik Harrison. That move has not yet yielded the desired results, as Malik Harrison was also recently released following minimal preseason action.
As a vested veteran, Roberts bypassed waivers and immediately became a free agent. While there remains a possibility he could return to Pittsburgh’s practice squad under new head coach Mike McCarthy, the circumstances surrounding his release suggest no immediate plan is in place to bring him back. James Harrison echoed this sentiment, cautioning fans not to expect a quick reunion unless the team faces struggles early in the season.
From a strategic perspective, retaining Roberts seemed sensible, especially given the team’s limited focus on bolstering inside linebacker depth throughout the offseason. Moreover, Roberts spent last season playing under Patrick Graham, Pittsburgh’s current defensive coordinator, and had a productive year with another team.
Despite his experience and familiarity with the coaching staff, Pittsburgh chose to move on from Roberts, leaving a gap in reliable run defense. Still, the Steelers maintain some depth at linebacker with players like Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, and Cole Holcomb on the roster.
Roberts only spent a short time with the Steelers; but during that short stint he found it immensely fulfilling and enjoyed returning to team environment and competing for a spot.
The Steelers announced Wednesday they have waived 15 players and released five as they completed their 53-man roster.