Mike Tomlin states both Cameron Johnston and Cole Holcomb will be ready for camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dealt some rough injury news throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons at different positions. While injuries happen every season, there are some injuries which are more severe and take longer to rehab.
In 2023 that injury was a gruesome knee injury to inside linebacker Cole Holcomb. Holcomb didn’t just miss the rest of the 2023 season, but also the entire 2024 season as well. The Steelers have kept him around by re-negotiating his deal the past two seasons, and Omar Khan said at the NFL Scouting Combine if the team had made a deep playoff run last season Holcomb could have been available.
The other injury of note was the knee injury to punter Cameron Johnston in the early stages of the 2024 season. Johnston got rolled up on as he punted the ball, causing a knee injury which required surgery and ended his season.
On Monday, during the NFL’s league meetings in Florida, Mike Tomlin was asked about the injuries to both players, and the head coach said both players will be ready for training camp this summer.
This per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com:
Over the past two days Mike Tomlin said P Cam Johnston and LB Cole Holcomb will both be ready for training camp
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) March 31, 2025
Holcomb’s return will be a boost for the Steelers inside linebacker room. Holcomb’s return, if healthy, can ease the loss of Elandon Roberts, and give the defense another option at the position instead of relying on Patrick Queen and/or Payton Wilson all the time.
As for Johnston, he was the Steelers first free agent signing in the 2024 offseason, and Tomlin gushed over his new punter before his was lost for the season. Corliss Waitman filled in admirably, but Johnston is by far the better play, again, if healthy.
Nonetheless, this is good news for the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency, and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
That is fantastic news!
I’m definitely going to follow the punter battle because, as you said, Waitman did an admirable job. I think the team will be in good hands no matter who gets the helmet.
I wonder if the team will hope for the same situation they had when they had Braden Mann on their roster and tried to leverage him for a trade. The Eagles waited out the Steelers, and he is a Super Bowl champion now.
I think we knew that Holcomb was good to go because they started his 21-day clock at the end of the season. Good to hear about Johnston. While Waitman was solid he made me very nervous. It seemed many of his punts were nearly blocked.