PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The starting quarterback was not the only news from the Mike Tomlin news conference on Tuesday. Another middle linebacker is out for Sunday at Seattle, plus other injury news and why George Pickens responded with a big game.
Middle linebacker
Elandon Roberts is out, the last of the three original first-team middle linebackers will miss Sunday’s game with a pec injury. Tomlin once called it a luxury to have Roberts along with Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb (both done for the season due to injuries). Blake Martinez will get an opportunity to contribute this week with Myles Jack. The eight-year veteran, Jack had six tackles including a sack in his first game back since retiring earlier this year.
“He’s a football lover,” Tomlin said. “He might have been pushing toward retirement, but probably because of a lack of opportunity. It didn’t take him long to ponder the opportunity when we reached out to him (a couple of weeks ago). I would imagine he was waiting for the call.”
LBs Mykal Walker and Mark Robinson will also big in the mix. Walker has played six games, starting four and led the Steelers with eight tackles against Cincinnati. Robinson, in his second season, played only five defensive snaps even though Roberts went down in the second quarter.
Safeties
Steelers played with Patrick Peterson and Eric Rowe as the two starting safeties in the win against Cincinnati. Each had an interception as Tomlin praised both. There is an opportunity Minkah Fitzpatrick and Trenton Thompson are available to return Sunday. Tomlin said he will see how the week plays out for both with both limited for the first practice on Wednesday.
It was Peterson’s first, full-time start at safety in his 13-year career.
“He’s a really sharp football player, very experienced,” Tomlin said. “He sees the game from a coach’s perspective in that he can step outside his helmet, that allows for versatility.”
George big game
Tomlin had a separate news conference last week, requested to discuss George Pickens and comments he made about his struggles against the Colts. Tomlin said how he needs to mature in handling the media, but would play and any discipline would be handled internally.
Why was he able to respond with a career-high 195 yards and pair of touchdowns?
“We got him the ball with fluidity,” Tomlin said. “You know, we got him in some one on one circumstances and his talent showed.”
LB released
He was brought back last week after being released from the practice squad, undrafted rookie outside linebacker David Perales released again on Tuesday.