After last week’s gameday roster at inside linebacker included a pair of recent practice-squad call-ups who came out of retirement earlier this year, the return of starter Elandon Roberts is a welcome prospect for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Roberts, the veteran run-stuffer, said Thursday that he will play in Saturday’s regular-season finale at the Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m going,” Roberts said after practice at the UPMC Sports Complex when reporters asked if he might be cleared to play in Baltimore.
“I am playing,” he said moments later.
Roberts was listed as questionable on the league-mandated status report released late Thursday afternoon after practicing in a limited basis.
Roberts missed this past Sunday’s win at the Seattle Seahawks because of a pectoral injury suffered during the first half of the prior week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Roberts, 29, did not practice last week but returned to the practice field Wednesday. The eight-year veteran is the last man standing among the trio of starting-caliber inside linebackers the Steelers began the season with. Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb each suffered season-ending injuries in November.
With Roberts out last week, the Steelers had Blake Martinez and Myles Jack in uniform to play alongside another practice-squad signee from earlier this fall, Mykal Walker, at ILB. Jack played every snap in what was just his second game since coming out of retirement to sign with the Steelers on Nov. 20.
“Everybody’s pros,” Roberts said of the reserves stepping up in the inside linebackers position room. “I think those guys and our coaching staff have been doing a great job making sure everybody’s been ready to go and stuff like that. It is what it is, injuries are part of football. We are all pros and we are all prepared to go out there.”
Roberts’ return is especially helpful against Baltimore, which leads the NFL in rushing yards (2,555) and yards per carry (5.0). He has been considered the Steelers’ best linebacker against the run.
The Steelers (9-7) vastly improve their playoff hopes with a victory against the Ravens (13-3), who are resting several starters after clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff bracket.
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