Help on the Way: Steelers Could Get Players Back from IR This Week

The Pittsburgh Steelers could get some players back from the IR and PUP lists this week, including linebacker Cole Holcomb.

Alan Saunders |

Updated: Oct 1, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb runs out of the tunnel for a game against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2, 2023. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have four players that will be eligible to return from the injured reserve or physically unable to perform list this week, and head coach Mike Tomlin said that it’s likely that some of them will indeed return to practice.

Tackle Dylan Cook, defensive lineman Logan Lee and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon are all eligible to return from the injured reserve list this week and additionally, linebacker Cole Holcomb can come off the PUP list.

“I hadn’t had those meetings yet, but probably,” Tomlin said during his weekly press conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday. “There’s a level of excitement there. We’ll see what their participation looks like and the quality of their participation and harden that up as we get closer to came time.”

Cook suffered a Lisfranc injury on Aug. 17 and is still expected to need another couple weeks to get back into game shape. Cook would provide some much-needed depth along the offensive line with Troy Fautanu out for the season and versatile backup Spencer Anderson being needed so often at guard.

Moon has been dealing with an ankle injury since that same Week 2 preseason game, and he could be a player that potentially returns right at four weeks. Moon is another player that could get right back into the rotation with Alex Highsmith already ruled out this week and Nick Herbig also banged up.

Lee suffered a calf injury in late August and also could be an option to return quickly, though it’s less clear where he’d fit in the team’s rotation on the defensive line.

Holcomb has been out since suffering a major knee injury that required surgery on Nov. 2 last year. His presence could give the Steelers a serious amount of depth at inside linebacker when paired with Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts and Payton Wilson.

“I’m comfortable with the way things are trending from that positional group, but obviously, a guy like Cole Holcomb, man, you get him back in the mix, that’s not gonna do anything but help us,” Tomlin said.

In addition to the four players eligible to return this week, linebacker Tyler Matakevich and wide receiver Ben Skowronek will be able to come off the IR next week, with Cory Trice Jr. and suspended cornerback Cameron Sutton able to return in Week 8, when the Steelers have a bye.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player	Injury	Date	Prognosis	Roster Status
RB Cordarrelle Patterson	Ankle	Sept. 29	Day to day	Active, DNF vs. IND
OLB Nick Herbig	Ankle	Sept. 29	Day to day	Active
DT Keeanu Benton	Ankle	Sept. 29	Day to day	Active
RG James Daniels	Achilles	Sept. 29	Out for season	Active, OUT vs. DAL
RB Najee Harris	Right arm	Sept. 22	Healthy	Active
RB Jaylen Warren	Knee	Sept. 22	Day to day	Active, DNP vs. IND
OLB Alex Highsmith	Groin	Sept. 22	Week to week	Active, OUT vs. DAL
CB Cory Trice Jr.	Hamstring	Sept. 22	Three weeks	Injured reserve
RT Troy Fautanu	Right knee dislocation	Sept. 20	Regular season	Injured reserve
TE MyCole Pruitt	Right knee	Sept. 15	Day to day	Active, DNP vs. IND
WR Ben Skowronek	Shoulder	Sept. 15	Two weeks	Injured reserve
LB Tyler Matakevich	Hamstring	Sept. 15	Two weeks	Injured reserve
P Cameron Johnston	Right leg	Sept. 8	Out for season	Injured reserve
QB Russell Wilson	Calf tightness	Sept. 5	Day to day	Active
LG Isaac Seumalo	Pectoral strain	Aug. 28	Day to day	Active, DNP vs. IND
SS Ryan Watts	Necke	Aug. 24	Out for season	Injured reserve
DL Logan Lee	Calf	Aug. 20	Week to week	Injured reserve
OLB Jeremiah Moon	Right ankle	Aug. 17	Week to week	IR-Return
OT Dylan Cook	Lisfranc, left foot	Aug. 17	Week to week	IR-Return
C Nate Herbig	Torn rotator cuff	Aug. 14	Out for season	Injured reserve
OLB David Perales	Left MCL tear	July 31	Out for season	Injured reserve
ILB Cole Holcomb	Left knee	Nov. 2, 2023	Week to week	PUP/reserve