Steelers are becoming vulnerable at important position

The Steelers (8-7) rebuilt their inside linebacker room this offseason. But after seeing several injuries to the group, they have been forced to sign players who would otherwise be free agents.

On Tuesday night, Pittsburgh agreed to terms with LB Jaylon Smith, a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2016. The move was necessary after head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out LB Elandon Roberts (pec) ahead of the Steelers' Week 17 matchup against the Seahawks.

Smith now joins an inside linebacker room that includes Mykal Walker, Myles Jack, Blake Martinez and Mark Robinson. A unit that was once headlined by Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander at the beginning of the year has fallen apart.

Roberts may return to play this season if Pittsburgh is somehow able to sneak into the playoffs but the same can't be said about Holcomb and Alexander, who each suffered season-ending injuries midseason. 

It's certainly one of the worst positions to become thin at as inside linebackers are theoretically the quarterbacks of the defense typically wearing the green dot.

Jack, who played for the Steelers in 2022, seems to be the favorite to wear it next after a strong six-tackle and one-sack performance in Week 16. Tomlin made sure to highlight Jack's play earlier this week, saying he "can't say enough" about him stepping up in tough circumstances.

The familiarity between the two has surely played a part in Jack's growing role, but the 28-year-old must continue stacking good performances to hold down the middle of the defense.

It seems Pittsburgh is still trying to find the right mix of players as Tomlin added that Martinez will play this week as well to see how he can fit into the linebacker corps.

What was once a position with a ton of upside has quickly turned into a mix-and-matching of aging veterans, making the middle of the defense very vulnerable.

If the Steelers can figure out the right mix, it may be enough to push them into the postseason. With two road games ahead against winning record teams (8-7 Seahawks and 12-3 Ravens), their chances aren't looking great.