The Pittsburgh Steelers have added two impressive players at inside linebacker this offseason. Initially, they secured Patrick Queen to to a contract that set a new record for the franchise.They then drafted Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
However, there is still no news on when these two players will have the chance to play with current Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb.
Holcomb sustained a knee injury that ended his season during Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans last year. He left the game on a cart and did not return.
The Steelers declared Holcomb out for the remainder of the season the day after his injury. However, they have not given a more detailed description of the injury besides it being a “knee injury.”
On May 8, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo did not have a more specific name for Holcomb’s injury. However, both provided discouraging updates on Holcomb’s recovery.
“Holcomb played very well last season until he had a season-ending knee injury, and that’s been a pretty significant injury,” Pryor said during an appearance on The Adam Gold Show. “My understanding is it’s not just a simple ACL tear, and they’re being very vague on what the specific injury is.”
Pryor added that Holcomb’s timeline to return “isn’t quite clear.”
Fittipaldo used context clues to provide his own update on the inside linebacker.
“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,” Fittipaldo wrote as an answer in a fan chat. “They signed Patrick Queen to the richest free agent deal in franchise history and selected Payton Wilson in the third round of the draft. Plus, Elandon Roberts is back for another season.
“If Holcomb does play this season I don’t think it will be early in the season.”
Before his injury, Holcomb was among the Steelers leaders in tackles and defensive snaps last season. In eight games, he had 54 combined tackles, including 4 tackles for loss. He also had 2 quarterback hits, 2 pass defenses and 2 forced fumbles.
When Will LB Cole Holcomb Return for Steelers?
Although the Steelers have been vague with Holcomb’s injury, it’s evident the injury is very severe.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters at the NFL combine that he wasn’t sure about the linebacker’s recovery timeline. This is unusual for an injury that occurred four months earlier.
Since Holcomb's injury, it has been assumed that he tore his ACL. Usually, the recovery time for an ACL tear is 6-12 months. In recent years, NFL players have returned closer to the shorter end of that timeframe. In consideration of these facts and Pryor’s comments on The Adam Gold Show, it is likely that Holcomb's situation involves other knee injuries in addition to the ACL tear, or it may be a different issue such as a patellar tendon tear.
But the only confirmed information is that Holcomb suffered a knee injury. Any other assertion is mere speculation.
Holcomb Shares Workout Video
While Pryor and Fittipaldo had discouraging updates on Holcomb’s return, there was one positive indication for his recovery in March.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora reported
on March 19 that Holcomb shared a workout video on his Instagram story. “Working with well-known trainer Pete Bommarito, Holcomb posted clips to his Instagram story of him at the gym,”
Kozora wrote . “You can see him wearing a black sleeve on his left knee.“Holcomb was working upper body and not shown doing any leg exercises. But the fact he’s on his feet and training is a positive indication.”
If there’s any other positive news with Holcomb, he is under contract beyond 2024. So, if he cannot play much in 2024, Holcomb could still return fully healthy for Pittsburgh in 2025.
The Steelers signed
the linebacker to a 3-year, $18 million contract last offseason. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor indicated that inside linebacker Cole Holcomb is not dealing with a simple ACL tear this offseason.
