The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently riding a two game winning streak after beating the Green Bay Packers in Week 10 of the 2023 NFL season. Despite adding to the win column over the past two weeks, the defense has had some significant losses. In Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, inside linebacker, Cole Holcomb suffered a gruesome season-ending knee injury, and in Week 10, Kwon Alexander went down with a serious ailment as well.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers offseason acquisition Kwon Alexander record the game sealing interception to ice the game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9
Steelers' Alexander Suffers Achilles Injury
The Steelers flipped their entire inside linebacker room during the 2023 offseason. They parted ways with Devin Bush and Myles Jack. They then signed Elandon Roberts, Holcomb, and Alexander, in an attempt to rebuild that position on their defense. All three linebackers have been having a good 2023 season, but now, Holcomb will not be playing again in 2023 and Alexander will also miss the remainder of the season with a torn achilles which Head Coach, Mike Tomlin's commented on in his postgame press conference.
"Bumps and bruises associated with play, it appears Kwon Alexander has a serious lower body injury. He's being evaluated. But not promising there."
This would mean the Steelers have lost two of their top three inside linebackers in a span of just 10 days. Going into the 2023, Tomlin often said that it was a luxury having the three free agent acquisitions since that all had their own set of strengths. Now, the Steelers have a hole to fill at inside linebacker alongside Roberts.
Mariah Wild / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kwon Alexander makes a tackle in the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers
Alexander has been a great player so far for the Steelers in 2023. He has helped turn a position, that has been a weakness for the Pittsburgh's defense over the last couple of years, into a strength. Alexander secured the game-sealing interception in Week 9 against the Titans. The Steelers were winning by four points and the Titans were driving and threatening to score with time running down, and on a throw into the end zone by Will Levis Alexander came up big.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kwon Alexander practicing ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers
Alexander has been a huge asset for the Steelers' defense. He has been a consistent tackler over the middle of the field against both the run and in the pass game. He has 41 combined tackles on the season and has made some timely plays with his interception against the Titans and a crucial sack on Lamar Jackson in the Week 5 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. His 41 tackles are fifth on the Steelers defense despite only starting one game in 2023.
In the contest against the Packers, Alexander was replaced by Mark Robinson. Robinson was the Steelers seventh-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and he is a converted natural running back that the team selected out of Ole Miss. Robinson has shown some promise in training camp and in preseason games, but it is likely the Steelers would like someone more reliable to fill in for Alexander.
Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers veteran Kwon Alexander has been worth every penny so far in 2023, as he has brought additional depth and talent to the linebacker room.
The Steelers currently have Mykal Walker on the practice squad, who had a lot of success with the Atlanta Falcons from 2020 through 2022, but has yet to find his footing anywhere else in the NFL. All Steelers fans will be hoping for a quick recovery for Alexander, and hopefully he will be back wearing the black and gold in 2024.
Should the Steelers look for outside help at the inside linebacker position? Let us know in the comments below!
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