Steelers Elandon Roberts Has No Off Switch Even In the Preseason

ROBERTS DOESN’T KNOW IT’S PRESEASON

Elandon Roberts has two Super Bowl rings. He has played more than enough meaningful football to know the difference between January and a preseason game in August.

Apparently, nobody told him the difference Friday night. It wasn’t about the 694 career tackles he’d already made.

It was about setting the tone and making an impression.  

“Like I said, it’s about gaining trust and gaining a leadership,” Roberts said.

Roberts entered in the third quarter and started stacking tackles with a vengeance.

Tackle.

Another tackle.

Then a terrific stop in space, closing downhill and holding the Jets to a one-yard gain on fourth down to turn the ball over.

Then another.

And another.

“Like I said, it’s just about trust. I don’t have ego in this,” Roberts said. “You know, I know what I can do. I know what I’m capable of, but I have to go out there and put it on film. And I just thank the coaches and you know for allowing me to for getting helping me get ready to be able to show that today.”

By the end of the night, Roberts led Pittsburgh with four solo tackles and tied for the team lead with five total tackles. More than the numbers, though, it was the violence and urgency behind them. Roberts wasn’t stealing a few preseason snaps. He was attacking them.

“Bro, I haven’t played this song since my rookie year like that,” Roberts joked about being on the field.

And here’s the part that made the performance even better: Roberts said his night actually began long before he stepped onto the field.

Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson started. Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener followed. Roberts watched all of it as if he were standing beside them.

“I felt like I was taking reps in because, like, every play, I was locked in," Roberts said. “So, when I did get my opportunity, I was able to go out there and enjoy the game with the fellas and be that guy for the younger guys out there."

That’s veteran preparation stripped down to its simplest form. Roberts wasn’t waiting for his number. He was taking mental reps off everyone else’s.

So, when his number finally came, there was no warm-up period.

He was ready to hunt.

The best visual wasn’t even one of his tackles. It came when Roberts headed toward the sideline and teammates met him with high-fives and pats on the back. His adrenaline was still pumping. His teammates could feel it.

Roberts could too.

Since returning to Pittsburgh, he said the place still feels like the one he left.

“I’m so humble and full with enjoyment, just to be back home,” Roberts said after the game.

Then Roberts delivered the line that perfectly explained everything we had just watched.

“Hey man, like, you know, I ain’t lost it."

Five tackles.

Four solo.

A turnover-on-downs stop.

Two Super Bowl rings.

And one veteran linebacker treating a preseason third quarter like his football reputation was on trial.

No, Elandon Roberts hasn’t lost it.