Latest Dolphins Release Provides Steelers With New Inside Linebacker Option

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just two weeks away from their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. With exhibition action now over, the franchise must cut its roster from 90 to 53 men. One of its most recent releases is certainly a head-scratcher, as Elandon Roberts. who was signed August 12th, must now find a new home. After having a solid couple of showings, Roberts is now once again a free agent and available to sign wherever he chooses. With more cuts remaining, things just got a lot more interesting for the Black and Gold.

The franchise brought Roberts back for his run-stuffing ability and unmatched physicality. The current inside linebacker room has shown that a finesse style of play is more their style, leaving them more susceptible to downhill runs. Without Roberts, the linebacker room is once again a vulnerable group, and one that the organization didn't add to until August. 

The team will now have to either find a replacement for Roberts or stick with what it has. The current backups are Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison and Carson Bruener. Harrison hasn't seen much action at all in the preseason, as he was originally believed to be on the roster bubble, but with Roberts' release, he may find his way onto the final 53-man group. However, an inside linebacker was recently let go by his team, and that could potentially catch the eye of Pittsburgh. 

The Miami Dolphins recently let go inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson after a season in which he recorded five sacks and 129 combined tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. With Jordyn Brooks coming off a monster season and the selection of Jacob Rodriguez, Miami opted to release the veteran linebacker. The former Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks defender will now be looking for a new home, and the Steel City could be the one. 

Dodson could step in and immediately fill the role Roberts was expected to occupy. He's an exceptional blitzer, having five sacks in 2025, but remains weak in coverage, allowing a 108.1 passer rating when targeted. With the lack of upgrades in the linebacker room, Dodson could be a solid addition and bring a different skill set than what is already displayed with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. 

If the Steelers were to sign Dodson, he likely wouldn't be active early. Roberts signed with the team and was already participating in team drills because he was familiar with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme. Dodson has never played under Graham, and  would have to learn a whole new scheme and the verbiage. This would put him behind Holcomb and Harrison, who have had the whole offseason to adjust. 

Steelers Eyeing Move At Inside Linebacker

While Queen and Wilson will get fresh starts under a new scheme, it's tough to imagine that the inside linebacker room remains the same after the struggles they endured during the 2025 season. Pittsburgh shuffled through four linebackers in 2025, with Queen, Wilson, Holcomb, and Harrison all starting games. The defense ranked 17th in total defense and 19th against the run, and the inside linebackers played a large part in the struggle. 

A player like Dodson makes sense for the group; at just 28, he's a younger option who remains in his athletic prime and can likely provide more versatility than Roberts at 32. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Roberts played primarily on run downs, then was subbed out on third downs or obvious passing situations. Dodson could thrive in that role if he signed with the Steelers and helped out other linebackers like Wilson, who is better suited in coverage. 

The Steelers still have a large number of cuts to make and tough decisions to make, but signing a player like Dodson could pay dividends for the defense. 

#SteelerNation