When Elandon Roberts walked in free agency, and the Pittsburgh Steelers only added Malik Harrison to the linebacker room, many fans were confused by the decision. But those of us with that reaction may have forgotten a once-promising piece of the defense.
Cole Holcomb is back on the practice field after missing all of the 2024 and more than half of the 2023 season due to a gruesome knee injury.
Cole Holcomb continues his work this spring after missing all of last year with a knee injury pic.twitter.com/aBWR5dpUmV
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) June 12, 2025
Holcomb returns to a revamped Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker group with something to prove
Seeing him on the field is not just a comforting sight, but an exciting one. He looks fluid, comfortable, and well-rehabbed, even if the black sleeve on his left leg serves as a reminder of what he’s working back from.
“He’s an unbelievable worker, and so he’s getting himself back into football movements and shape and all of those things,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said via the team website. “And he’s gonna have to fight his tail off, because it is a different room than when he left. But I think he’ll be up for the challenge, and we’ll see just how that works out at camp and what it takes.”
The Steelers do appear to have their two entrenched starters at off-ball backer in Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. However, both players are entering their second seasons with the team.
Queen is coming off an underwhelming first season in Pittsburgh, while Wilson is likely taking on a full-time starting role for the first time in his career as a second-year player. There should be space for Holcomb somewhere, but Austin says he’ll have to earn the reps.
“The bottom line is whoever are the best players have to be on the field. And if he’s one of the best players, then we’ll find a way to get him on the field,” Austin said.
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Holcomb will turn 29 at the end of July, and at 240 pounds, it seems the most likely scenario is for him to fill the vacancy in short-yardage situations. Still, the veteran took advantage of mental reps over the past season to be ready to return to the mix in an entirely different linebacker room.
“I got to know them pretty well last year, you know, I tried to stay as involved as I could and, you know, being now to come out here and play with those guys has been great,” Holcomb said last week. “Just trying to get in where I fit in. Love the competition, love competing, so it’s been great.”