Steelers defense takes another major hit with misfortune of LB Kwon Alexander to “genuine” leg harm

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to discover a way forward without Kwon Alexander.

The ingenious interior linebacker’s season is likely over with what coach Mike Tomlin called a “genuine” cleared out leg damage maintained within the to begin with quarter of a 23-19 win over Green Inlet.

Alexander, who had flourished in Pittsburgh after marking a one-year bargain with the Steelers in July, was dropping into scope when he fell to the ground. He was able to walk off the field beneath his possess control but was rapidly taken to the locker room for testing and ruled out.

Tomlin said Alexander was being assessed but included that it was “not promising.”

The nine-year experienced had coincided rapidly with Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, the three getting to be basically conversely whereas part snaps moderately equally.

Holcomb’s season finished final week when he sustained a knee injury in a win over Tennessee. Alexander will presently connect Holcomb on harmed save, meaning two of Pittsburgh’s best five tacklers entering Sunday are presently done for the year. Alexander’s 41 handles positioned fifth on the group, with Roberts third (48) and Holcomb moment (54).

Presently, Pittsburgh (6-3) will have to move on with Roberts as the as it were experienced interior linebacker on the program. Second-year player Stamp Robinson had three handles against the Packers whereas playing an extended part with Alexander out, whereas Roberts will wear the green dab interior his protective cap that transfers the play call from protective facilitator Teryl Austin.

Roberts has worn the dab amid past stops in his career in Unused Britain and Miami. Presently he finds himself as the senior statesman at a position that’s basically been a rotating entryway for the Steelers since Ryan Shazier endured a career-ending spinal damage close the conclusion of the 2017 season.

The list of players who have been brought in over the final five a long time incorporates Check Barron, Jon Bostic, Myles Jack and Devin Bush. None have stuck. The Steeler hit the reset button within the offseason, marking Holcomb to a three-year bargain, Roberts to a two-year bargain and taking a flyer on the charismatic and physical Alexander after he had a strong 2022 for the Unused York Planes.

Presently, as it were Roberts remains sound.

“He’s a quality, experienced player,” Tomlin said of Roberts. “He’s a good communicator. He takes the run amusement actually. Those are the reasons why we obtained him in free organization and he’s reliably given that.”

Interior linebacker isn’t the as it were position the Steelers are harming. All-Pro security Minkah Fitzpatrick missed his moment straight diversion with a hamstring harm, and Keanu Neal went down late with a rib damage after picking off Green Bay’s Jordan Cherish.

That cleared out Trenton Thompson, a hone squad player, to form his moment NFL appearance within the last minutes as the Packers attempted — and fizzled — to score the go-ahead landing.

“We were spilling in a part of places nowadays, but following man up,” said experienced cautious back Patrick Peterson, who blocked an extra point and tipped the pass that Neal catching within the conclusion zone. “Coaches accept in guys who have an opportunity to (be actuated) in a amusement. We’ve ought to believe in each other. Get in there and (play football).”

There’s good faith that Fitzpatrick will be back before long. And Neal’s damage may not be noteworthy. The same can’t be said for Alexander, who at 29 may confront a long recovery similar to the ones he managed with prior in his career. His 2018 season in San Francisco finished with a torn ACL in his knee, he played in eight diversions in 2019 some time recently tearing a pectoral muscle and he tore an Achilles ligament on Christmas Day in 2020.

Pittsburgh’s plan inclines up in trouble over the coming weeks. The Steelers visit AFC North rivals Cleveland (6-3) and Cincinnati (5-4) the following two Sundays. And they’ll hit the street with a defense all of a sudden missing in encounter at a imperative position.

“We’ve got a great division, that ain’t no mystery,” Roberts said. “(Beating Green Narrows) was enormous for us, but we have to be get in this film, see at it and we’ve have to be get prepared for a big amusement this week.”