This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers added two intriguing inside linebacker signings. They started by signing Patrick Queen to a record-breaking contract for the franchise. Payton Wilson, the Dick Butkus winner, was then selected by them in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, it’s still unclear when those two players will have the chance to practice alongside Cole Holcomb, the starting linebacker for the Steelers.
In Week 9 of last year’s campaign, Holcomb sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Tennessee Titans. He abandoned the game on a cart and never came back.
The day following his injury, Holcomb was declared out of the season by the Steelers. However, the team hasn’t given the condition a more precise name yet beyond “knee injury.”
Holcomb’s ailment was described as not having a precise designation by Ray Fittipaldo of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Brooke Pryor of ESPN on May 8. However, their updates on Holcomb’s recuperation were dismal.
Speaking on The Adam Gold Show, Pryor stated, “Holcomb was playing really well last season until he had a season-ending knee injury, and that’s been a pretty significant injury.” “From what I understand, it’s not just a straightforward ACL tear, and they’re not being entirely clear about the nature of the injury.”
Pryor continued, saying it “isn’t quite clear” when Holcomb will return.
Fittipaldo gave his own update on the inside linebacker based on situational cues.
Fittipaldo responded to a fan chat post with, “Based on their moves in free agency and the draft, I am betting they are not counting on much of a contribution from Holcomb this season, if at all.” “They drafted Payton Wilson in the third round of the draft and signed Patrick Queen to the largest free agent contract in the franchise’s history. Elandon Roberts is returning for a second season as well.
“I don’t think Holcomb will play early in the season if he does.”
Prior to his injury, Holcomb led the Steelers in both defensive snaps and tackles during the previous campaign. He totaled 54 tackles in eight games, including 4 tackles for loss. In addition, he recorded two forced fumbles, two pass defenses, and two quarterback hits.
When Will Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Make a Comeback?
Despite the Steelers’ evasiveness over Holcomb’s injuries, it is obvious that the condition is grave.
At the NFL combine, Omar Khan, general manager of the Steelers, expressed uncertainty to reporters on the linebacker’s expected period of recovery. For an injury that happened four months prior, that is incredibly unusual.
Since Holcomb’s injury, it has been assumed that he tore his ACL. An ACL tear typically requires six to twelve months of recuperation. NFL players have returned closer to the shorter end of that span in recent years.
These details, together with Pryor’s remarks on The Adam Gold Show, suggest that Holcomb is probably dealing with more than a simple ACL tear. He might be dealing with something different totally, like a patellar tendon tear, or he might have another issue in addition to the ACL tear.
However, the only thing that is known is that Holcomb hurt his knee. Any other suggestion as fact is conjecture.
Holcomb Shares a Video Workout
Although Holcomb’s return was not as anticipated by Pryor or Fittipaldo, there was one encouraging development for his recuperation in March.
On March 19, Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot revealed that Holcomb had uploaded an exercise video to his Instagram story.
“Holcomb shared clips of him at the gym to his Instagram story while working with well-known trainer Pete Bommarito,” Kozora wrote. He has a black sleeve on his left knee, as you can see.
Holcomb was not seen exercising his legs; instead, he was focusing on his upper body. However, the fact that he is moving and exercising is encouraging.
If Holcomb’s situation improves further, he has a contract that runs until 2024. Therefore, Holcomb might still suit up for Pittsburgh in 2025 if he is unable to play much in 2024.
The linebacker inked a three-year, $18 million contract with the Steelers during the previous offseason.
Dave Holcomb is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers while covering MLB and the NFL. Holcomb, who is originally from Pittsburgh, has covered professional and collegiate sports for publications like Fansided, Rotowire, and Yardbarker. Additional information on Dave Holcomb