Steelers place ILB Cole Holcomb on injured reserve, activate RB Anthony McFarland off it

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed Cole Holcomb on injured reserve Monday, four days after the starting inside linebacker suffered a serious knee injury.

Taking Holcomb’s place on the active roster is running back Anthony McFarland, who had been on IR since Week 2 because of a knee injury.

McFarland had to be activated to the active roster by 4 p.m. Monday or else he would be lost for the season. Monday was the end of a 21-day window after which McFarland returned to practice.

McFarland, per the injury report, has been a full participant in each of the Steelers’ practices over the past three weeks.

McFarland began the season as the Steelers’ kickoff returner and No. 3 running back. In the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, he caught two passes and returned three kickoffs.

Since his return to practice, McFarland said his injury was lingering through training camp, and he finally got it addressed.

Godwin Igwebuike in the interim has served as the Steelers’ kickoff return man but has not taken on a role in the offense behind running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Holcomb signed a three-year, $18 million contract in March, coming over from Washington. He went down awkwardly after colliding with teammate Keanu Neal during a first-quarter play Thursday against the Tennessee Titans. Holcomb was carted off the field.

Holcomb was the Steelers’ most-deployed inside linebacker through seven games. With him out, fellow veteran newcomers Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts will play more, with second-year Mark Robinson the next man up at the position.

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