Cole Holcomb was at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday. But 6 1/2 months since suffering a major knee injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker was not taking part in the first session of organized team activities.
“He’s working to get back to us,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “and doing a heck of a job of it.”
Holcomb was not wearing a brace nor walking with any noticeable limp in the Steelers locker room. Signed last year as an unrestricted free agent, the 27-year-old suffered his gruesome-looking injury during the first half of a Nov. 2 home victory against the Tennessee Titans.
In the interim, the Steelers signed inside linebacker Patrick Queen to a $41 million contract as an unrestricted free agent, retained veteran Elandon Roberts and drafted playmaker Payton Wilson in the third round.
Trice participating
Another Steelers player who suffered a significant knee injury last year was back on the field and taking part in drills at OTAs, as photos taken of the workouts confirm. Cory Trice was turning some heads as a rookie seventh-round pick early during last year’s training camp before going down with a non-contact injury Aug. 1.
Trice had a torn ACL, and a typical rehab timeframe suggested he would be ready for spring workouts.
The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Trice is part of a group of cornerbacks jockeying for position behind starters Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson.
Running back signed
The Steelers signed veteran running back Jonathan Ward before the OTA session Tuesday. Ward, who has 42 games of NFL experience over the past four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans, was at Steelers rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Ward, 26, has 17 career carries and played just seven snaps on offense last season. But he is a core special-teamer.
Schedule complete
A final piece of the 2024 game schedule was announced Tuesday: the date and time for the Steelers’ preseason finale.
The Steelers’ previously announced Week 3 preseason game at the Detroit Lions will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Like the other two preseason games, it will be broadcast locally on KDKA-TV.
