The Steelers have added some new pieces to their inside linebacker room this offseason, signing former Raven Patrick Queen via free agency and selecting NC State’s Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
As a result, many have debated if Cole Holcomb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last year, is further away from being fully healthy than expected.
Some have even tabbed Holcomb as a potential cut candidate, but head coach Mike Tomlin seemed to put those beliefs to rest during Tuesday’s first day of OTAs.
He’s working to get back to us and doing a heck of a job of doing it,” Tomlin said via Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now.
Holcomb, who signed a three-year, $18 million deal with Pittsburgh last offseason, played well before his injury. In eight games, the 27-year-old registered 54 tackles, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed.
However, his promising season ended during the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans on “Thursday Night Football.”
Holcomb was hit by friendly fire, hyperextending his knee and causing him to miss the remainder of the year.
The biggest question now is when will he return to the field.
Tomlin didn’t give a direct timeline but showed more optimism than the team had given all offseason.
General manager Omar Khan reiterated how serious of an injury it was ahead of this year’s draft.
“I don’t really have much to add on the timeline,” Khan told reporters. “We’ve discussed this, it was a major injury, but he is working hard.”
For now, parting ways with Holcomb looks to be off the table. The focus will now shift to when the sixth-year linebacker could potentially return to the field for the first time since last November.
