The Pittsburgh Steelers were hit hard when linebacker Cole Holcomb suffered a knee injury during the 2023 season, which sidelined him from week nine onward. The team had hoped his rehabilitation would allow him to return for the 2024 season, but he has yet to rejoin practice as training camp begins.
Steelers insider Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that Holcomb’s recovery is not progressing as hoped. Dulac noted that Holcomb is far from ready to play and mentioned the possibility that the team might place him on IR or waive him injured.
Despite this setback, the Steelers remain strong at linebacker. They drafted Payton Wilson, who has been impressive since joining the team, and he will join standout Patrick Queen and veteran Elandon Roberts in a solid linebacker group. Although the team would prefer a proven veteran like Holcomb, Wilson’s potential is promising. However, relying heavily on a rookie could be risky.
Dulac’s update is particularly disappointing given the Steelers’ earlier optimism about Holcomb’s recovery. General Manager Omar Khan had been hopeful about Holcomb’s return before the 2024 NFL Draft, but as the second week of training camp progresses, it appears increasingly likely that Holcomb may miss the entire season. This opens up opportunities for newly re-signed Tyler Matakevich and Mark Robinson to step up, with Wilson expected to play a key role in the defense.