PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will start linebacker Mykal Walker next to green dot wearer Elandon Roberts moving forward at inside linebacker, the team revealed on their Week 12 depth chart. Walker has jumped Mark Robinson, and even though Blake Martinez and Myles Jack will add to the mix, Walker maintains his starting spot. He played a solid game against the Cleveland Browns and seems poised to fill in admirably for the injured Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb.
Walker will tell you that his greatest asset is his versatility. He’s not wrong. But his experience for the Steelers is a massive asset, too. A fourth-round pick in 2020 out of Fresno State, Walker is a veteran with plenty of playing experience. Over his three years in Atlanta, he racked up 187 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and one sack. In those years, he started 20 games for the Falcons, with 2021 being his most impressive season as an NFL player.
But he only played one spot in his first start with the Steelers. That was intentional, and it paid off. When asked, Walker looked solid in coverage against David Njoku and played downhill enough to affect plays consistently. He was no star, but for a guy coming up off the practice squad on limited time, Walker did what he needed to do. Walker’s role will likely grow from here, and Pittsburgh will see what he can do as the versatility in his understanding of the defense grows.
Walker is an excellent complement to Roberts. While Roberts plays downhill and can cover in short areas, Walker has an appetite to stand out in man coverage, and Roberts makes up for some of Walker’s struggles in run defense. In that way, they work perfectly for each other in the same way that Holcomb, Alexander, and Roberts did for one another.
Walker is not a perfect player, but for a veteran who is still just 26, there is upside for Pittsburgh to embrace with him as long as he continues to play well. The first returns on their investment in him were very positive.
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