The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan head into the summer months with plenty of momentum following the early stages of team development and Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Even with several questions surrounding the roster, ranging from the contract extension status of Cameron Heyward, to the future of Najee Harris, Khan has done well to construct a winning roster built to handle the gauntlet of an NFL season.
Injuries are usually one question that teams don't have to worry about prior to pads coming on during training camp. For the Steelers, however, the absence of veteran linebacker Cole Holcomb has been felt by the team, as the franchise continues to wait for a timetable for his return to the field.
Holcomb suffered a knee injury when he and Keanu Neal combined on a tackle against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. Specifically, Holcomb hyperextended his knee on the hit, ending his 2023 campaign. Since then, Holcomb has been working his way back to the field through various rehab assignments. The Steelers have done well in bringing in capable players at middle linebacker, but Holcomb is his own kind of bruiser on the field.
Joining The Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Steelers Insider Mark Kaboly of The Athletic had one word to say when asked if Holcomb will be ready to go against the Atlanta Falcons come Week 1.
"No (Cole Holcomb will not be ready by Week 1)."
Though the Steelers have yet to officially declare Holcomb as unavailable, the team is confident and positive towards his timeline to return by training camp. If Kaboly is correct that Holcomb will not start against Atlanta, the conversation begins to shift towards exactly when he will be able to return to the lineup this season.
The Remodel Of The Steelers' Linebacker Room
Since taking over as the Steelers General Manager, Khan has worked vigorously to rework and reshape the roster to win a championship. His first matter of business was the linebacking core, that has lacked the ability to shift momentum in games. Following the 2021 season, Khan released everyone but Mark Robinson and elected to start fresh.
Khan's first two additions to the room were Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, both with different, but complementing in skills. Holcomb was coming off a successful stint with the Washington Commanders. The former fifth-round pick totaled 388 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Injuries took their toll on his career however, enabling him to move to the Steelers in 2023. Khan signed Holcomb to a three-year contract that offseason, where he quickly became a fan favorite. Holcomb's presence created stability in the room that became evident following his injury.
Roberts, more of a downhill thumper, has spent the majority of his career within the AFC East. After four seasons with the New England Patriots and three with the Miami Dolphins, the veteran made his way to Pittsburgh where he tallied 101 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his first season. Like years prior, the Steelers suffered injuries at the position, making way for Kwon Alexander, Myles Jack, and several others to wear the Black and Gold to fill the hole.
The Steelers ensured that depth wouldn't be a problem in 2024, signing Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency and drafting Payton Wilson from NC State in the third-round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh has all the makings to be a dangerous and impactful group, but is missing Holcomb in the lineup. Holcomb's presence allows the defense to keep it's signal-callers fresh, and play chess in complementing their skill sets to what an opposing offense is looking to do. Even if Holcomb isn't ready to play against Atlanta in Week 1, there is plenty of opportunity to make a difference in 2024 for a team that is looking for a playoff victory.
