Tag: cole holcomb

Cole Holcomb suffers gruesome injury in Steelers’ TNF victory

Cole Holcomb, the former UNC linebacker (2015-2018) who’s one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top tacklers, will likely miss the rest of 2023.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, despite having one of the NFL’s most anemic offenses, keep finding ways to win.

Kenny Pickett threw a late touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson last night, which proved to be the eventual game-winning score in a close, 20-16 Steelers victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Despite Pittsburgh struggling to find a strong offensive rhythm, its defense is a major reason it’s 5-3 in a crowded AFC North.

One of the top producers on that defense is former UNC linebacker Cole Holcomb, who’s second on the Steelers with 52 tackles. Holcomb shined at Carolina from 2015-2018, helping the Tar Heels win the ACC Coastal Division in 2015 and leading them in tackles from 2016-2018.

Unfortunately for Holcomb, his NFL season might be cut short.

In pursuit of Titans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Holcomb’s left leg got bent in all wrong directions when teammate Keanu Neal was making a tackle.

If you are grossed out by sports injuries, this is one you won’t want to watch.

According to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Holcomb’s injury is serious. This is code for “Holcomb probably won’t play another down this year.”

How great of an impact will Holcomb’s injury have in the Steel City? Not as much as you might think.

Holcomb is the Steelers’ listed starter at left inside linebacker, but he has a very capable backup in Elandon Roberts. The former New England Patriot and Miami Dolphin, Roberts has 465 tackles and 12.5 sacks across 7.5 seasons.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin offered grim update on Cole Holcomb injury

The news about Cole Holcomb’s injury wasn’t great after the game but we should know more on Tuesday.

Thursday night’s win over the Tennessee Titans didn’t come without some sacrifice for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting inside linebacker Cole Holcomb went down early in the game with an ugly leg/knee injury and had to be carted off the field.

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin offered a grim update on Holcomb’s injury as he noted it was very serious but didn’t expand on it.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him, man,” Tomlin said. “I’ll have an update I’m sure the next time we come together regarding the nature of that.”

Holcomb was added in the offseason as a free agent from the Washington Commanders and had really eased into the role of lead inside linebacker. Athletic and smart, Holcomb was providing some of those splash plays that unit had been missing for a long time. Now we just hope that Holcomb is OK and can make a full recovery. The team now has something of a mini bye week so the next time Tomlin will address the media is on Tuesday.

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Steelers LB Cole Holcomb carted off with leg injury

Cole Holcomb suffered a leg injury in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans.

The Injuries are already starting to stack up for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense on Thursday night. First defensive tackle Montravius Adams went off with an ankle injury and now inside linebacker Cole Holcomb had to be carted off with an apparent leg injury.

Unfortunately, the injury was the result of friendly fire. Holcomb was chasing down Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and got tangled up with teammate Keanu Neal trying to make the tackle.

Holcomb has been the team’s best of the three new inside linebackers and his presence will be missed. Kwon Alexander replaces Holcomb in the starting lineup next to Elandon Roberts.

The Steelers announced that Holcomb is OUT and will not return to the game.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin provides injury update on ILB Cole Holcomb

The Steelers could be without Cole Holcomb vs. the Jags.

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be without a key player versus the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb suffered an ankle injury in the Los Angeles Rams game but was able to return. He finished the day with eight tackles.

In his Tuesday press conference, Mike Tomlin said the ankle “requires some attention.” As usual, Holcomb’s practice quality this week will dictate his availability.

Pittsburgh signed Holcomb as one of its first free-agency moves in March. He’s been a solid defender, but his coverage game has been a weakness. According to PFF advanced stats, he’s allowed 14 receptions on 19 targets, seven for first downs for a 73.7 percent completion rate. He’s stepped up his tackle game — since missing 29 percent in Week 1, he’s logged 46 total tackles.

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Ravens rookie Zay Flowers makes Steeler LB Cole Holcomb look silly

Zay Flowers is a rookie with many moves for the Ravens

The rookie got the veteran in the Baltimore Ravens’ game with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers with a pass near the sideline and the rookie wideout from Boston College showed Cole Holcomb some of his moves.

Check it out as Holcomb goes in for the tackle and comes up with nothing but sidelines in the AFC North battle.

Cole Holcomb continues to shine for Steelers in win over Raiders

Cole Holcomb was a tackling machine at UNC from 2015-2018. He now starts at inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is performing.

Former UNC linebacker Cole Holcomb started his football career at the beach and is currently playing in Steel City.

At Carolina, Holcomb led his team in tackles twice and generated a 100-tackle campaign his final year, one in which he also was named Second Team All-ACC. Holcomb spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Washington Football Team, then signed a 3-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason.

Holcomb made a crucial play in the Steelers’ Week 2 victory over the Cleveland Browns, stripping tight end David Njoku of the football just before his knee hit the ground.

On Sunday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, Holcomb continued his impressive start as a Steeler, registering a tackle for loss, pass deflection and five solo tackles. In a game the Raiders should’ve won, Holcomb and the Pittsburgh defense did just enough to move atop the AFC North.

Holcomb gets to play alongside one of the league’s top linebacking corps – Kwon Alexander, Elandon Roberts, Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, arguably the sport’s best edge rusher. The Steelers haven’t wowed on offense, with underwhelming quarterback play from Kenny Pickett and a virtually non-existent running game headlined by Najee Harris, but they haven’t needed to in order to win.

If Holcomb continues playing like this, he could carve out a long career in the Steel City.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Cole Holcomb named as one of most impact NFL free agent signings

Former UNC linebacker Cole Holcomb (2015-2018) is starting at inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in his fifth NFL season.

UNC is not necessarily known for being a defensive-minded football program, but it’s churned out some solid players over the years.

Lawrence Taylor and Julius Peppers are likely the first two players who come to mind when a Carolina fan thinks defense.

There’s one guy in recent years, Cole Holcomb, who’s already making an immediate impact with his new team.

Holcomb, who shined at UNC from 2015-2018, was a fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders back in 2019. He spent four years in the nation’s capital, registering a pick-six and a pair of 100-tackle seasons, but Washington decided not to re-sign him.

Now in his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Holcomb is continuing to make an immediate impact.

On Wednesday, Holcomb was named one of Pro Football Focus’ most impactful NFL free agent signings.

Check out what PFF’s Brad Spielberger had to say about Pittsburgh’s new linebacker:

“Holcomb earned an 81.0 grade in Week 2 on a robust 78 snaps, with his 80.6 coverage grade exactly why Pittsburgh signed him to play alongside thumpers like Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander. Holcomb allowed just one reception for eight yards in coverage, making two defensive stops. He also added a quarterback pressure, one of over a half-dozen Steelers to wreak havoc on Deshaun Watson.

If Holcomb can continue to man the middle of the field, up the seams in coverage and prevent throws between the second level and the single-high safety that Pittsburgh generally deploys, he’ll be a huge benefit to this talented defense.”

With the Cleveland Browns leading the Steelers, 22-19, on Monday Night Football earlier this week, Browns tight end David Njoku caught and ran with a Deshaun Watson pass. Just as it looked Njoku’s knee would hit the grass at Acrisure Stadium, Holcomb popped the ball loose for teammate Damontae Kazee to recover.

 

While Pittsburgh didn’t score on its ensuing drive, the fumble was part of a stellar defensive performance, as the Browns only scored once in the second half. The Steelers would later win on T.J. Watt’s scoop-and-score fumble.

Holcomb totaled eight total tackles (three solo) in the victory – he’ll only get more comfortable in the Steelers’ defense as the season progresses.

With Holcomb being one of their starting inside linebackers and fresh off his best performance in black and gold, he’s quickly shown he belongs in Pittsburgh.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Cole Holcomb was the Commanders’ biggest free-agent loss

Which free agent do you believe was Washington’s biggest loss thus far?

Through two weeks of NFL free agency, the Washington Commanders have added and retained more players than they’ve lost. Washington retained defensive tackle Daron Payne on a four-year deal while signing outside free agents such as Nick Gates, Andrew Wylie, Cody Barton and Jacoby Brissett.

Some of the players Washington has lost over the last two weeks are Taylor Heinicke, Cole Holcomb, Cam Sims and Wes Schweitzer.

Which player was Washington’s biggest free-agent loss?

According to Pro Football Focus, it’s Holcomb.

Holcomb unfortunately missed the second half of the 2022 season following a procedure on his foot, but he was in the midst of earning a career-high 66.6 overall grade and a 67.0 coverage grade. Through Week 7, Holcomb’s 20 defensive stops were a top-20 mark among linebackers, and his 10.5% forced incompletion rate was in the top 15.

Washington obviously has a ton invested in its front seven, but Holcomb’s loss won’t go unnoticed.

PFF’s grade of Holcomb tells you everything. While Holcomb did continue to improve, you weren’t shelling out big dollars to retain him. He signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh worth up to $18 million.

Washington’s linebackers have struggled in coverage, although Jamin Davis took a big step forward last season.

It remains to be seen if Barton provides an upgrade over Holcomb. The former third-round pick from the same draft class as Holcomb had his best season in 2022. It was the first time in his career as a full-time starter.

Cole Holcomb says goodbye to Washington

Holcomb thanks Washington and the fans for the last four years.

Cole Holcomb was a fan favorite the moment Washington drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Washington was terrible that season, but the rookie linebacker from North Carolina was a bright spot, playing all 16 games and making 15 starts.

When new head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio came aboard in 2020, Holcomb remained in the starting lineup, a key piece of Washington’s new defense. Even better for Holcomb, Rivera and Del Rio were former standout NFL linebackers, which boded well for his development.

Add in Holcomb’s mullet; it sealed his status as a fan favorite.

But after four years in Washington, Holcomb signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week once the Commanders signed Holcomb’s likely replacement in free agency, Cody Barton.

Washington wanted Holcomb back, but the two sides were apart on money. The Steelers gave Holcomb a deal for three years and up to $18 million.

On Saturday, Holcomb went to his Instagram to say thank you and goodbye to Washington.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp73a4yLCTU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Several former teammates quickly responded to Holcomb’s post, including Chase Young, Kam Curl, Jeremy Reaves and Jamin Davis.

Good luck to Cole Holcomb on the next chapter of his career with the Steelers.

Cody Barton to replace Cole Holcomb as Commanders MIKE linebacker

Barton sounds like Washington’s MIKE linebacker in 2023.

When the Washington Commanders agreed to terms with former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton Monday, many fans were like, who?

That’s not meant to disrespect Barton, but some fans had visions of someone like Tremaine Edmunds coming to Washington. That was never happening.

As we’ve learned over the last few seasons, this coaching staff, led by a linebacker at head coach [Ron Rivera] and a linebacker at defensive coordinator [Jack Del Rio], has devalued the position a bit. Washington often uses an extra safety and rarely has three linebackers on the field.

So when the Commanders scoured the free-agent market for a linebacker, they were looking for a younger player with untapped potential. That led them to Barton, a former third-round pick in 2019.

While Washington wasn’t necessarily looking to upgrade from Cole Holcomb, they liked Holcomb and wanted him back but were only going to offer so much. That led the Commanders to Barton, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million in 2024. After Barton signed, Holcomb agreed to a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Thursday, Barton met with the media and said he wanted to sign with a team that would play him at MIKE linebacker.

“I wanted to be somewhere where I could be a starting MIKE and flourish at that position,” Barton said. “They expressed their interest and belief in me at that position.”

Why MIKE?

“I’ve played all three positions before, but I feel like I play my best ball at MIKE,” Barton answered.

The Commanders have their replacement for Holcomb.

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