Steelers ILB Cole Holcomb Still Rehabbing Brutal Knee Injury

PITTSBURGH — It’s been a long road to recover for Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, and he’s not at the end of it just yet.

Holcomb is continuing to rehab from the brutal left knee injury that ended his 2023 season and has so far, kept him out of team activities throughout the 2024 season. 

Holcomb has been eligible to be reinstated from the physically unable to perform list for four weeks now, and while he has been working individually alongside the practicing Steelers at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, he has yet to open his practice window as the team enters its Week 9 bye.

Steelers linebackers coach Aaron Curry said on Wednesday that Holcomb has been frustrated by the slow pace of his rehab, but is doing all the right things to get himself back out there.

“The best thing he’s done is just focus on being the best he can possibly be, in regards to his rehab and making sure that he does’t get distracted by the eagerness or the wanting to be back out there and staying locked in on increasing and improving his health,” Curry said. “He’s done a really good job of that. …

“It’s really challenging to be around the game and not be able to preform and play and practice the game you’ve been playing all your life. It’s really challenging. It takes a lot of mental toughness and a lot of self-discipline not to put yourself in a position to put yourself at risk.”

It’s probably helped that unlike 2023, the rest of the Steelers’ linebackers room has been healthy and playing well this season.

Last year, Holcomb was one of several linebacker injuries that left Elandon Roberts as the sole remaining healthy player from the initial group of ILBs. He finished the season playing alongside scrap-heap signings Mykal Walker and Blake Martinez and dragged-out-of-retirement veteran Myles Jack.

This year, Roberts is playing some of his best football, and he’s been surrounded by former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Patrick Queen and third-round rookie Payton Wilson.

It’s not even clear where or how often Holcomb would play when he returns to the Steelers, but he seems dedicated to meeting that goal at some point this season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT