Mark Robinson running out of chances to make impact as ILB with Steelers

For all that can be said about Mark Robinson going from small-school college running back to young NFL linebacker, he certainly can’t complain he’s had no one to look up to and learn from in plying his craft.

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers made him a seventh-round draft pick in 2022, there have been no shortage of veteran inside linebackers to serve as mentors.

Myles Jack, Devin Bush, Robert Spillane, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander, Mykal Walker, Blake Martinez and Patrick Queen – to varying degrees — have lengthy pro resumes and have combined for hundreds of games and thousands of tackles in the NFL.

Each, over the past 25 months, has shared a position room with Robinson, a talented-but-raw athlete who has been learning the position at the highest level.

“It’s always fun, their love for the game, being around good guys who are good at what they do,” Robinson said Thursday after an organized team activities session at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “So any time you get somebody like that, it’s easy to learn form them, easy to follow them, easy to get better.”

Robinson said he has been blessed to have so many veterans at his position to look up to. That can be true, but it also is a tell-tale sign in how little faith Steelers management has shown in Robinson’s ability to handle a full-time role on defense.

Even after myriad free-agent departures or players lost to season-ending injury over the past two seasons, never did the Steelers fully turn to Robinson. They instead chose to bring in another veteran.

This season, Robinson is behind $41 million free-agent Queen, Roberts, rookie Payton Wilson and — if and when he recovers from his knee injury — Holcomb.

“For me, it’s just about competing and playing,” Robinson said. “I worry about playing, and everyone else can see what they can do and things will fall into place.”

Robinson will turn 25 during training camp. There is no guarantee he will make the Steelers’ 53-man roster to open the season, though that he has become one of the Steelers’ most trusted special teamers will help his cause.

Robinson had nine rushing touchdowns over two college seasons for Presbyterian and Southeast Missouri State before walking on at Ole Miss and having 92 tackles as a senior in the SEC.

The Steelers have, at times, deployed him in run-first situations. Though a high-energy tackler, Robinson remains a liability in coverage. Pro Football Focus graded him 158th among 164 qualifying off-ball linebackers in coverage in 2023.

Robinson said he is better prepared for an NFL season now than as a rookie or second-year player.

“For sure,” he said. “Just (because of) experience. I’ve had experience.”