An aspiring pilot and a Pokémon card collector could fill Steelers’ void at ILB

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After seven NFL seasons, an estimated $49 million in pre-tax earnings and numerous injuries, inside linebacker Myles Jack felt content riding off into the sunset — or maybe more accurately, flying off into the sunset.

The veteran, who went unsigned over the offseason, spent two weeks with the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason before he decided to hang up his cleats. He bought a hockey team, the Allen Americans of the ECHL (mostly because he likes it when they drop the gloves) and began studying to become a pilot.

“I took my solo (test),” Jack said. “I was about to take my cross country. And then I got a phone call.”

It was from Pittsburgh.

The Steelers made a concerted effort this offseason to upgrade their inside linebacker corps. To borrow a hockey term, it was a total line change. They said goodbye to all three pieces of last year’s rotation — Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Jack — and brought in a new complementary trio of Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts.

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That was supposed to be the end of Jack’s one-year tenure as a Steeler, which saw him rack up 104 tackles in 15 games. However, in the NFL, even the best-laid plans can be thrown into the wind.

First, season-ending injuries to Holcomb and Alexander thrust Roberts into an iron-man role. After playing almost exclusively on first and second downs, the run-stuffing menace stepped up to play 100 percent of the snaps in Weeks 11 and 12 against the Browns and Bengals.

Just as Roberts was beginning to prove he could be an every-down linebacker, he too went down mid-game during the 24-10 embarrassment against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The drop-off was profound. Without Roberts, the Steelers allowed a 99-yard scoring drive that completed a 14-point swing and changed the complexion of the game.

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A Steelers defense that has been inconsistent against the run for years allowed just 10 yards on five carries when Roberts was on the field. After he went down? The Steelers gave up 140 rushing yards on 33 carries (4.2 average) and both of James Conner’s rushing touchdowns.

Beyond Roberts’ run-stopping prowess, the Steelers also missed what he brought as the communicator in the middle of the defense.

“When our communication sufferers, sometimes our play suffers,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “We have to do a better job as coaches helping our guys communicate better. When I say us helping them, in terms of demanding more, making sure they get it in practice.”

Now, the Steelers are likely to see another heavy dose of ground-and-pound football Thursday against the Patriots, who can’t figure out which quarterback to play. Per reports, Bailey Zappe will get the nod as the starter. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers are also preparing for Malik Cunningham, a mobile quarterback who can operate out of the wildcat.

When the Patriots come to Pittsburgh, there’s no guarantee Roberts will be ready to play. He was listed as a limited participant following Tuesday’s walk-through style practice. He said in the locker room afterward that he imagines he’ll be questionable for Thursday.

Asked Elandon Roberts about balancing wanting to compete this week vs. risking rushing back too soon: "It’s December. I’m thinking fast. Trust me."
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) December 5, 2023

So how do the Steelers handle what might be yet another missing piece in the middle of the defense?

“It happens across the league and, really, nobody gives a s—,” Austin said with a smile. “It’s just, you’ve got to get it done. So we’ve got to get it done.”

If Roberts cannot play, the list of candidates is long. But there’s not yet a lot of clarity on who would step to the front of the line.

Mykal Walker, who watched the first two weeks of the season at home, was claimed off the Raiders’ practice squad and has been playing alongside Roberts in many instances over the past three weeks. Likewise, Mark Robinson, who is still progressing as a linebacker after playing offense for most of his life, is another name Steelers fans know.

But two recent additions, Jack and Blake Martinez, are working to ready themselves for a possible opportunity.

While Jack was hoping to fly under the radar in retirement, Martinez has been in the middle of a controversy. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he started a company selling Pokémon cards. It went so well, generating $11 million in revenue at its peak, that he decided to give up football entirely.

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However, he was accused of misleading buyers and ultimately kicked off Whatnot, a shopping platform that specializes in collectibles, which said customers had been refunded.

Less than a year after announcing his retirement, Martinez returned to football. He spent a brief stint with the Panthers’ practice squad before the Steelers signed him on Nov. 21.

“He’s really sharp,” Austin said. “Really attentive. Until you get him on the field, you don’t know. But I think he’s got a pretty good football aptitude and blends in well with our guys. All that stuff is positive moving forward.”

With the move, the Steelers have a pair of linebackers who once thought they were retired now readying to backfill an essential position and a communication hub on defense. Jack said the two have been able to relate because of their somewhat similar journeys back to football.

“Both PAC-12 guys,” the UCLA-educated Jack said of Martinez, a Stanford product. “We got more in common than not in common. We’ve definitely been just bouncing ideas, keeping each other motivated.”

Martinez said he’s been working closely with inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry. During his first act, he spent time with the Packers, Giants and Raiders. He’s using those experiences learning new playbooks to help him get up to speed with the Steelers’ terminology and schemes.

“No matter what new place I went to, (I have) a certain preparation of how I go and do things,” Martinez said. “Going through the playbook. Writing it out. Writing formations. Different things like that. Going through the checks, whether it’s on a whiteboard or on a notebook, anything to make sure I was ready to go.”

Martinez said he’s been preparing at Mike and Will linebacker and in all sub-package situations. He’s also readying in case he’s asked to communicate plays on defense. He joked that he’s not sure if he’s running with the “ones, twos, nines (or) sevens,” in practice.

What does he expect on Thursday?

“I was just kind of told to be ready to go,” Martinez said.

(Photo of Myles Jack: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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