When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Kwon Alexander on Sunday before the team’s training camp practice, many fans saw this as a sign the team wasn’t pleased with the current crop of players at the linebacker position. Whether they were returning or free agent acquisitions, many saw Alexander’s arrival as a shot across the bow for players like Mark Robinson, Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts.

Maybe you were one of those fans who thought this, and I wouldn’t blame you for having these thoughts. However, according to our source inside the Steelers organization, it couldn’t be further from the truth, at least when speaking about one of those aforementioned linebackers.

That player would be Elandon Roberts.

Our source was adamant on how impressed the Steelers have been with Roberts since he was signed as a free agent. All signs are he is having an impressive camp, and is bringing an intensity to the defense the team has been extremely pleased with.

On top of that, the Steelers love the intensity and edge he has brought to every aspect of the Steelers defense. In fact, it is something the team feels they’ve been missing the past few years on the defensive side of the ball.

This isn’t to suggest the defense which sports T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward are somehow soft, but Roberts is bringing a grit, or fight, to the group which very well could change a lot about the defense in 2023. The defense has always been tough, but Roberts brings that edge to the group, and it has coaches excited.

As for Roberts’ feelings on the signing of Alexander? Well, let’s just say he isn’t threatened by the competition. This per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor when Roberts met with media prior to training camp practice Sunday:

ILB Elandon Roberts grinned when he was asked if Kwon Alexander's addition changes anything about his role.

"No."

"…It's my job to come out here every day and be prepared to go from my position and what's called for me."

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 30, 2023

Here is more from Roberts talking about how he loves to be pushed from others. He never wants to be complacent. This video from Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan:

#Steelers Elandon Roberts on added competition with Kwon Alexander signed ⁦@937theFan⁩ pic.twitter.com/2M8bJTihXZ

— Jeff Hathhorn (@jhathhorn) July 30, 2023

So, if you thought the signing of Alexander somehow shines a light on the Steelers being disappointed with Roberts’ play so far, think again. If anything, it provides the Steelers to have a flexibility with their inside linebackers they never had in previous years.

This is something which I discuss in-depth on the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast, which you can hear in the player below: