Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb did not practice on Thursday while battling an illness. He was one of a multitude of players who did not practice ahead of the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Holcomb came from a severe knee injury this offseason that forced him to miss all of last season. A multi-ligament knee injury, Holcomb’s health has been sterling otherwise this season and the illness is unlikely to keep him out this week. Over the last month, Holcomb has started to eat into more of second-year linebacker Payton Wilson’s snaps and has taken that up as an opportunity to get on the field. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said on that Holcomb will end up continuing that role after a strong trial run from the veteran, who returned from an 18-month long recovery from a severe knee injury. “It went good. I think Cole deserved it. He’s been working his tail off to get back. He gives a different element. He’s a downhill thumper. So it was good. We gave him an opportunity there. We’ll see how it goes with each opponent. Each opponent is a little bit different, and I think that will determine his role. I think he’s earned a role to try to help us win,” Austin said. The journey for Holcomb has been tough. He missed over 18 months after suffering alife-changing knee injuryon Nov. 2, 2023. Holcomb thought multiple times he would retire, but now he is back and starting for the Steelers. That is a turn he did not see coming on the field when he suffered the injury against the Tennessee Titans. “Definitely not taking any play for granted anymore,” Holcomb said. “It was a long journey. It was a hell of a journey. There were days that it sucked. But it’s on to the next one.” Holcomb started in eight games for the Steelers in 2023, racking up 54 tackles, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and four tackles for loss in those games.
