NFL cutdown day is never easy on a general manager’s psyche. GMs like Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers spend days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years getting to know the human side of the athletes seen playing football on TV.
But when it comes time to trim the roster from 90 to 53 players, a GM must make the best decision for their football team.
On Sunday, the Steelers participated in the NFL’s annual mad dash to form the best roster possible. In doing so, they may have released a key player. Now, one former Steelers legend can’t help but wonder if Pittsburgh’s front office will regret that choice.
James Harrison: Will Steelers Regret Cutting Elandon Roberts?
One player who was surprisingly cut from the Steelers’ roster was two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Elandon Roberts. However, Steelers icon James Harrison, a fellow linebacker, didn’t necessarily agree with the move and thinks the team could regret moving on from the 10-year veteran.
Harrison took to X to state his case, standing up for Roberts in the process.
“I hope we don’t regret this cause I didn’t see this coming in a million years,” Harrison remarked.
“You telling me you brought this man in as a camp body??? Cause that’s [expletive] sure not what it sounded like was happening when he got here. We gon find out quick if this was a good decision or not in Week 1 vs Bijan, though.”
I hope we don’t regret this cause I didn’t see this coming in a million years.
You telling me you brought this man in as a camp body??? 🤨 Cause that’s damn sure not what it sounded like was happening when he got here.
We gon find out quick if this was a good decision or not… https://t.co/p36GzR7rn4
— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) August 30, 2026
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While Harrison may have been caught off-guard by the move, it’s not like the Steelers made a huge commitment to Roberts. He signed a one-year, $1.48 million contract just over two weeks ago. It’s not like he’s long been part of the team’s plans.
Still, after Roberts started 16 of his 17 appearances last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, the belief was that he’d have a major role in Pittsburgh too. Obviously that’s not what transpired, and now he’s on the waiver wire, where any team can place a claim on the veteran.
Roberts finished last season with a PFN Impact Score of 71.5, good for 57th among linebackers. Yet, clearly the Steelers feel like they have better options on hand with Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener, and Jacoby Windmon.
Odds are, it won’t take long for Roberts to land on his feet elsewhere, or possibly still back in Pittsburgh on the team’s practice squad.
