Steelers Get Big-Time Reinforcement at Linebacker
PITTSBURGH — After a long 14-month recovery time, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb returned to practice on Tuesday but he remains on the reserve physically unable to perform list.
The Steelers have a 21-day window to activate Holcomb to the 53-man roster, or he’ll remain out for the the remainder of the year. Of course, the Steelers may not have many more than 21 days left in their season.
Holcomb suffered a brutal left knee injury in the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans in 2023. On the play, Holcomb’s knee went into hyperextension when his teammates leg hit his. As a result, Holcomb missed the remainder of the year for the second straight season, in addition to the first 16 games of the 2024 season. Holcomb has been hard at work to return from the injury, but it has been a long recovery process.
Steelers linebackers coach Aaron Curry said in late October 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 doesn’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.”
RELATED: Steelers ILB Cole Holcomb Still Rehabbing Brutal Knee Injury
The Steelers and Holcomb reached an agreement on a restructuring of his contract in August that means Holcomb will not earn his full salary while on the PUP list. If he stayed on the PUP list all season, he would earned $3.1 million instead of $6 million.
Holcomb is in the second season of a three-year contract with the Steelers, and he is set to earn $6 million again next season. The 28-year-old started eight games for the Steelers in 2023 before his injury, recording 54 tackles, four for a loss, two quarterback hits, two passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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