PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s one thing to come back from one devastating knee injury, but Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb is back and full go at practice after a second substantial knee injury in November of 2023.
Holcomb missed the last nine games of 2023 and all of 2024. The 28-year-old did return to practices at the end of last year, but said it was for the best that he didn’t attempt to play in a game even though he thought he would be able to go. Now he’s at Organized Team Activities and you wouldn’t know what he dealt with.
“It feels great,” Holcomb said of being on a practice field without restrictions again. “Looking back, you never know, one play can end your season. You take stuff for granted. Now I’m kind of just soaking everything up, enjoying it and having fun out there.”
“Great to be out there with the guys playing again.”
After missing training camp in Latrobe, Holcomb spent the rest of the season with his teammates. Going through rehab and trying to be as involved in team meetings as he could. The last time he took the field the other inside linebackers were Elandon Roberts, Kwon Alexander and Mark Robinson. Only Robinson remains with Patrick Queen brought in as the leader and Payton Wilson drafted in the third round in 2024.
“I got to know them pretty well last year,” Holcomb said. “I tried to stay involved as much as I could. Now being able to come out here and play with those guys has been great. Just trying to get in where I fit in. I love the competition, love competing.”
The advantage of coming in right now and having Queen and Wilson also attending voluntary workouts is they can pause plays and immediately go through mistakes and corrections.
What else helped was being with the team for the games in 2024. At times he would have a headset on to listen to the calls and coach’s conversations. Other times he could just get a different feel for what was going on.
“I think it helped me tremendously being on the sidelines on game day,” Holcomb said. “Kinda listening to the coaches talk and then also taking a step back.”
“When you are running the defense and you are doing stuff and you are five yards from the line of scrimmage. You can’t see as much. There are times where I’m 30 yards back watching the thing, and I know this is about to happen.”
“It helped trying to see the forest through the trees and see the big picture.”
He’s not back as a charity case. He’s competing to be a factor in the 2024 Steelers defense. His last full season was 2021 when he was with Washington, and he finished with 142 tackles. The former North Carolina linebacker said he feels like he picked up where he left off.
Holcomb fought through some tough days. He said he did it by just focusing on that day in front of him. He didn’t pay attention to milestones, rather the work at that moment. It got him back to NFL and said he’s incredibly grateful to the Steelers to sticking with him and allowing him this shot.
Instead of thinking of other career choices, working back from a couple of major knee injuries has reaffirmed his love for football. Coaching is likely in his future, but he hopes it won’t be for a few more years.
“My wife’s not happy about that,” Holcomb said. “I love this game. (Coaching) Could be a future, but I got some more playing to do.”
Holcomb will have to earn it with Wilson improving, Queen established and Ravens linebacker Malik Harrison signed. He’s just happy to be on a field again.