Keeping it Cool: Steelers ILB Cole Holcomb Taking Things Slow after Surgery

PITTSBURGH — Cole Holcomb is one of the big additions to the Steelers defense that they hope can help the inside linebackers completely turn over a new leaf. However, early on, Holcomb is experiencing just a little bit of turbulence on his ride to the regular season.

Holcomb, who only played in 7 games in 2022, dealt with a flurry of injuries. So far, the team is taking it easy with Holcomb and not forcing him to do anything they might feel uncomfortable with at this stage. He did note that he was limited, but he expects to be ready when the offseason program really starts to matter.

“Yep, I’ve been limited a bit,” Holcomb said. “It’s really nothing, just taking it easy. Whenever the games start to come around, I’ll be ready.”

Holcomb was injured in the Washington Commanders’ Oct. 23 game against the Green Bay Packers, was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 17, and underwent surgery early in December. So, it seems the team is just taking baby steps in the process before Holcomb gets the full go.

Cole Holcomb said that when their preseason game takes place against Tampa Bay on August 11th, there should be no concern for where he will stand. He will play, and be ready to go right away. Holcomb does not even expect to be limited in training camp moving forward, so while he might be limited now, it seems the Steelers are simply exercising a bunch of precaution around his injuries at this point, especially after foot surgery.

The Steelers are likely to slot Holcomb directly into one starting spot at inside linebacker, with Elandon Roberts manning the other. Starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds and slot cornerback Cam Sutton are also gone, so the entirety of the middle of the Pittsburgh defense will be new in 2023.