Steelers surprisingly cuts ex-starter who had just returned after season with Raiders

The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a tough decision regarding their roster, as holding multiple quarterbacks could lead to the loss of proven contributors for the 2026 season. This is especially true in a crowded linebacker room that includes Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, and Cole Holcomb.

As a result of this impending roster crunch, the Steelers made a surprising move by releasing veteran inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news on X, stating, “Steelers have released former starting linebacker, Elandon Roberts.”

This transaction marks a surprising and abrupt end to Roberts’ second stint with the Steelers. A two-time Super Bowl champion who entered the league in 2016, Roberts started 29 games for the Steelers during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including a standout 101-tackle campaign in 2023. He spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he recorded 90 total tackles over 17 games. The Steelers had re-signed the 32-year-old linebacker this offseason to provide veteran leadership and strong tackling, making his release on cutdown day a significant surprise.

Reacting to the news on X, ESPN Steelers beat reporter Brooke Pryor noted the unexpected nature of Roberts’ departure: “Roberts brought a ton of energy in a short amount of time. It’s a bit surprising to see his second stint in Pittsburgh come to an end so soon.” With over 690 career tackles, 121 NFL starts, and extensive postseason experience across his time with the Patriots, Dolphins, Raiders, and Steelers, Roberts was widely expected to secure a spot as a rotational player behind Queen and Wilson. However, positional constraints ultimately forced head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan to make a tough decision, leaving the experienced veteran to seek opportunities on the open market ahead of Week 1.

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