Steelers ILB Kwon Alexander Suffers Season-Ending Achilles Injury

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Kwon Alexander suffered an Achilles injury in the team’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday that will end his 2023 season, according to multiple media reports.

Alexander suffered the injury on the opening drive of the game. He was able to get to his feet and walked off under his own power and was initially listed as questionable to return. Alexander was taken to the locker room for further evaluation and was ruled out from the game.

“It appears that Kwon Alexander has a serious lower-body injury,” head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. “He’s being evaluated, but not promising there. … We can assess who is available to us and put together a good plan. We won’t make excuses about who we have available and who we don’t. We have an appropriate amount of time to prepare.”

The Steelers were already playing without fellow inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team’s Week 9 win over the Tennessee Titans.

With Alexander out early in the game, Elandon Roberts stepped up as the team’s green dot communicator for the defense and Mark Robinson stepped into a starting role.

An eighth-year vet, Roberts has been a key cog against the run for the Steelers all season but was asked to take a larger role on Sunday.

“Injuries are a part of the game,” Tomlin said. “They’re as much a part of the game as blocking and tackling. I’ve learned over the years not to worry about those that are not available to me, but to focus my energies on those that are available to me to make sure that they are ready and prepared and focused.”

Alexander joined the Steelers after the start of training camp on a one-year contract. In nine games this season, he has 41 tackles, which is fourth on the team. He also has five tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one pass defended.