Kwon Alexander suffered a torn Achilles during Pittsburgh’s 23-19 victory over the Packers on Sunday, meaning the Steelers lost another starting inside linebacker for the season, a source informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Alexander appears to have suffered a noncontact injury in the first quarter that resulted in the rip.
When Alexander was a player with the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day 2020, he previously tore his Achilles tendon. Nine months after the injury, he began the Saints’ regular season opener and was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award by the team the following year. It’s uncertain if the same tendon was injured in this instance.
After replacing fellow inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, who sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans one week prior, Alexander was sporting the green dot, which designates the player who communicates with the sideline.
During training camp, Alexander signed a contract with the Steelers, and he has been a pillar of the team’s redesigned linebacker corps. Alexander had the game-winning interception in the end zone against rookie quarterback Will Levis in Pittsburgh’s 20-16 victory over the Titans. Alexander has 41 total tackles this season, five tackles for loss, an interception, one forced fumble, and five tackles for loss.
Elandon Roberts, a second-year linebacker who was limited in practice during the week due to a knee ailment, and Holcomb, who were both out, got their first prolonged look of the season.
Roberts assumed command of the on-field communications after Alexander was knocked out. Playing 62 snaps against the Packers, Roberts—another free agent addition—went 22 snaps beyond his season best against the Houston Texans.
Robinson recorded two tackles while playing a career-high 40 defensive snaps. This season, he has played four snaps on defense just once, against the Las Vegas Raiders.
