Four veteran starters on defense did not practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, including one at a position where an important player was lost for the season last week.
Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts sat out Thursday’s practice because of a knee injury, according to the status report. Roberts was limited at Wednesday’s practice, but he did not mention any ailment during a long chat with reporters that day. Coach Mike Tomlin likewise did not reference an injury for Roberts either during his weekly news conference Tuesday nor after the Steelers’ most recent game, a Nov. 2 win against the Tennessee Titans.
Roberts and Kwon Alexander were to combine to pick up the slack after the loss of Cole Holcomb, who suffered a serious knee injury early during the Titans game. The trio had been on a timeshare through the first seven games of the season.
Also not practicing Thursday were safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive linemen Montravius Adams and Cameron Heyward.
Fitzpatrick is expected to miss a second consecutive game because of a hamstring injury, and Adams was forced to leave the Tennessee game after suffering an ankle ailment. Neither practiced Wednesday, either.
Heyward came off injured reserve to play in that game, playing 41 defensive snaps in his first action since Week 1. Heyward had a groin injury. By Tuesday, Tomlin acknowledged, “He probably played a little bit more than I wanted him to (against the Titans).”
Heyward was listed a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice.
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