Steelers Now
A former linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers put the team on blast for letting go a key player this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made several moves this offseason that earned general manager Omar Khan praise. However, former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams was not a fan of all of them.
Following Pittsburgh’s first two games of the 2025 season, Williams is beginning to question the decision to let run stuffing linebacker Elandon Roberts walk in free agency.
“Run stuffing, although not glamorous, is an essential skill for a kick-ass defense, especially in the North,” Williams posted on X. “E Rob as well.”
Roberts was elite at doing just that, racking up 147 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble during his two-year stint with the Steelers. The team was not interested in paying his cheap, one-year, $3 million price tag that the Las Vegas Raiders were this offseason, though.
Now, Pittsburgh’s run defense has not been pretty to watch over the past two weeks. For just the second time in head coach Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure, it has allowed 100-yard rushers in each of their first two games.
The Steelers also gave up a 19-yard rushing touchdown to Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III on a 3rd-and-goal last week, which was the first time such a play has occurred in NFL history.
Pittsburgh is clearly beginning to regret that decision, too. The team signed run-stuffing linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to its practice squad on Wednesday with the hopes he can fill the void that Roberts left.
Only time will tell if he’ll be able to help the Steelers run defense’s woes, but he certainly gives them another option as injuries continue to pile up.
In his 83 career games (67 starts), Bentley has recorded 509 tackles (209 solos), 10.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers LB Believes Team Made Major Offseason Mistake
