"PITTSBURGH -- In the face of adversity, the Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for a potential setback on the defensive front. Elandon Roberts, their seasoned inside linebacker, exited Week 13 due to a troublesome groin injury, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming clash against the New England Patriots on a short week. The void left by Roberts might just be filled by a fresh face.
As the team copes with the loss of Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb to season-ending injuries, they've turned to Blake Martinez, a seasoned veteran recruited from the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Although Martinez has been on the Steelers' roster for two weeks, he's been on the sidelines, absorbing the playbook and refining his understanding of the team's offensive dynamics.
With Roberts out, Martinez is poised to make his debut in the black and gold. "Once I got here, I was like, I'm putting the pedal to the metal. I think it's everybody's mindset that you're a backup until you're not," Martinez remarked in an interview with All Steelers. "So, you've got to make sure you're ready to go, prepare that way, and I've been doing that."
Boasting 29-year-old Martinez's 78 games of starting experience in the NFL, the Steelers are likely to lean on him to start alongside Mykal Walker in Week 14. This marks the first game of the season where neither of the team's starting inside linebackers were part of the roster from the beginning.
Martinez is confident in his chemistry with Walker and Robinson, stating, "Super comfortable... I think it's a great group across the board. Everyone comes to work every day wanting to get better. And it's also helped me out since I've gotten here."
In this scenario, Walker may don the green dot, signifying his role as the defensive play-caller. However, Martinez, with experience in operating play calls, is ready for any role thrown his way against the Patriots.
"It's been something that I've always done," Martinez affirmed about being the defense's communicator. "Whatever they ask, I've told them I'm ready to rock. I don't care if it's waterboy all the way to playing quarterback. I don't care."
For the latest updates, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns, and more, be sure to bookmark All Steelers and stay tuned for the unfolding Steelers saga!"
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