Latest news with #No.55
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb's long journey back after a gruesome knee injury is almost over
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cole Holcomb listened patiently and politely shook his head. No, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker isn't interested in reliving the gruesome knee injury that forced him to miss a season-and-a-half. Living through it once was punishment enough. Holcomb was chasing after wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a Thursday night game in November 2023 when a diving teammate slammed into Holcomb's left leg, shredding multiple ligaments in his knee. How bad was it? The Amazon Prime crew broadcasting the game showed it in slow motion once and decided that was enough. The road back took longer than Holcomb, an admittedly impatient person, ever imagined. He was cleared to return to practice near the end of last season, but never did pull his No. 55 jersey over his increasingly broad shoulders when it counted. The Fear of Missing Out wasn't helped when he watched the middle of Pittsburgh's defense get gashed repeatedly during a five-game skid that culminated in a blowout loss to Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. 'Definitely had some days where, you know, you just want to be out there and it's frustrating,' Holcomb said Tuesday, his forehead beaded with sweat after the fourth of the Steelers' six voluntary organized team activities. 'But you know, it's kind of just one of those take each day, one day at a time and just keep chopping.' While Holcomb's inherent confidence led him to believe he was always going to make it back, he knows nothing was guaranteed. The doctors told him there was a chance he'd never play again. It wasn't merely a scare tactic. 'They basically were emphasizing how important the rehab was going to be,' he said. 'You know, if guys don't take it as serious and they don't put the work in, they won't be able to make it back. But if you put the work in, you do the extra stuff, you come every day, no matter how bad you don't want to, all that kind of stuff, you can come back.' Fitting in During his lengthy absence, the Steelers signed Patrick Queen to the richest free agent contract in team history and drafted Payton Wilson, who Holcomb once hosted when Holcomb was at North Carolina and Wilson was a coveted recruit. While Holcomb looks 'more chiseled' as Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick put it, that's not the only way in which he has changed. Watching from the sidelines during games let him take a step back and analyze things in real time that are kind of hard to come by when you're on the field five yards from the line of scrimmage. 'I'm 30 yards back watching the thing and I'm, like 'Oh, I know this, I know this is about to happen,'' he said. 'But it's like, hey, it's easy to see that from back here. But it has definitely helped seeing the forest or the trees kind of thing.' So much so that the 28-year-old could envision going into coaching one day, which his wife, Casey, is 'not too happy about." There were times last season when Holcomb certainly sounded like one. 'He's very vocal, he tries to help everyone out,' Wilson said. 'He knows a lot about the game. He studies a lot. It's cool to be around that guy to see how he watches film and diagnoses stuff.' Yet whatever coaching Holcomb might get into is for down the road. For now, he is focused on trying to get back to being the player who looked every bit worth the $18 million investment the Steelers made in him when they signed him in March 2023. What's next He's less than thrilled that it took this long. Yet if he's learned anything over the last year-plus, it's that he can't take anything for granted. 'The day (during rehab) you think like, 'OK, I hit this milestone,' well, 24 hours later, that's over, got to get moving on to the next step," he said. 'I wasn't really like, focusing on like 'How many months is it until I can run' or anything like that. You're like, 'What do I got tomorrow?'' What Holcomb has now is a clean bill of health. Seven weeks from now, he'll be in training camp, where he'll be able to hit somebody hard for the first time in nearly two years. He's already practicing. During a drill last week, Holcomb would hit the blocking sled, then turn his attention to Wilson, who was holding a pad. The goal was for Holcomb to drive his shoulder into the pad. He did that, and in the process momentarily lifted the 240-pound Wilson off the ground a time or two before gently placing him back down. Maybe it was Holcomb sending a message to someone who took his place in the starting lineup. Or maybe Holcomb was just settling accounts. Wilson, after all, opted for N.C. State rather than the Tar Heels, though Wilson insisted it had nothing to do with his weekend spent with Holcomb on the North Carolina campus. 'No, not at all,' Wilson said, then added to laughter, 'It was more so like the 5,000 people that go to games there and that's it.' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb's long journey back after a gruesome knee injury is almost over
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cole Holcomb listened patiently and politely shook his head. No, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker isn't interested in reliving the gruesome knee injury that forced him to miss a season-and-a-half. Living through it once was punishment enough. Holcomb was chasing after wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a Thursday night game in November 2023 when a diving teammate slammed into Holcomb's left leg, shredding multiple ligaments in his knee. How bad was it? The Amazon Prime crew broadcasting the game showed it in slow motion once and decided that was enough. The road back took longer than Holcomb, an admittedly impatient person, ever imagined. He was cleared to return to practice near the end of last season, but never did pull his No. 55 jersey over his increasingly broad shoulders when it counted. The Fear of Missing Out wasn't helped when he watched the middle of Pittsburgh's defense get gashed repeatedly during a five-game skid that culminated in a blowout loss to Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. 'Definitely had some days where, you know, you just want to be out there and it's frustrating,' Holcomb said Tuesday, his forehead beaded with sweat after the fourth of the Steelers' six voluntary organized team activities. 'But you know, it's kind of just one of those take each day, one day at a time and just keep chopping.' While Holcomb's inherent confidence led him to believe he was always going to make it back, he knows nothing was guaranteed. The doctors told him there was a chance he'd never play again. It wasn't merely a scare tactic. 'They basically were emphasizing how important the rehab was going to be,' he said. 'You know, if guys don't take it as serious and they don't put the work in, they won't be able to make it back. But if you put the work in, you do the extra stuff, you come every day, no matter how bad you don't want to, all that kind of stuff, you can come back.' The group Holcomb returns to is not the one he left. Fitting in During his lengthy absence, the Steelers signed Patrick Queen to the richest free agent contract in team history and drafted Payton Wilson, who Holcomb once hosted when Holcomb was at North Carolina and Wilson was a coveted recruit. While Holcomb looks 'more chiseled' as Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick put it, that's not the only way in which he has changed. Watching from the sidelines during games let him take a step back and analyze things in real time that are kind of hard to come by when you're on the field five yards from the line of scrimmage. 'I'm 30 yards back watching the thing and I'm, like 'Oh, I know this, I know this is about to happen,'' he said. 'But it's like, hey, it's easy to see that from back here. But it has definitely helped seeing the forest or the trees kind of thing.' So much so that the 28-year-old could envision going into coaching one day, which his wife, Casey, is 'not too happy about.' There were times last season when Holcomb certainly sounded like one. 'He's very vocal, he tries to help everyone out,' Wilson said. 'He knows a lot about the game. He studies a lot. It's cool to be around that guy to see how he watches film and diagnoses stuff.' Yet whatever coaching Holcomb might get into is for down the road. For now, he is focused on trying to get back to being the player who looked every bit worth the $18 million investment the Steelers made in him when they signed him in March 2023. What's next He's less than thrilled that it took this long. Yet if he's learned anything over the last year-plus, it's that he can't take anything for granted. 'The day (during rehab) you think like, 'OK, I hit this milestone,' well, 24 hours later, that's over, got to get moving on to the next step,' he said. 'I wasn't really like, focusing on like 'How many months is it until I can run' or anything like that. You're like, 'What do I got tomorrow?'' What Holcomb has now is a clean bill of health. Seven weeks from now, he'll be in training camp, where he'll be able to hit somebody hard for the first time in nearly two years. He's already practicing. During a drill last week, Holcomb would hit the blocking sled, then turn his attention to Wilson, who was holding a pad. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The goal was for Holcomb to drive his shoulder into the pad. He did that, and in the process momentarily lifted the 240-pound Wilson off the ground a time or two before gently placing him back down. Maybe it was Holcomb sending a message to someone who took his place in the starting lineup. Or maybe Holcomb was just settling accounts. Wilson, after all, opted for N.C. State rather than the Tar Heels, though Wilson insisted it had nothing to do with his weekend spent with Holcomb on the North Carolina campus. 'No, not at all,' Wilson said, then added to laughter, 'It was more so like the 5,000 people that go to games there and that's it.' ___ AP NFL:
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb's long journey back after a gruesome knee injury is almost over
PITTSBURGH — Cole Holcomb listened patiently and politely shook his head. No, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker isn't interested in reliving the gruesome knee injury that forced him to miss a season-and-a-half. Living through it once was punishment enough. Holcomb was chasing after wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a Thursday night game in November 2023 when a diving teammate slammed into Holcomb's left leg, shredding multiple ligaments in his knee. How bad was it? The Amazon Prime crew broadcasting the game showed it in slow motion once and decided that was enough. The road back took longer than Holcomb, an admittedly impatient person, ever imagined. He was cleared to return to practice near the end of last season, but never did pull his No. 55 jersey over his increasingly broad shoulders when it counted. The Fear of Missing Out wasn't helped when he watched the middle of Pittsburgh's defense get gashed repeatedly during a five-game skid that culminated in a blowout loss to Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. 'Definitely had some days where, you know, you just want to be out there and it's frustrating,' Holcomb said Tuesday, his forehead beaded with sweat after the fourth of the Steelers' six voluntary organized team activities. 'But you know, it's kind of just one of those take each day, one day at a time and just keep chopping.' While Holcomb's inherent confidence led him to believe he was always going to make it back, he knows nothing was guaranteed. The doctors told him there was a chance he'd never play again. It wasn't merely a scare tactic. 'They basically were emphasizing how important the rehab was going to be,' he said. 'You know, if guys don't take it as serious and they don't put the work in, they won't be able to make it back. But if you put the work in, you do the extra stuff, you come every day, no matter how bad you don't want to, all that kind of stuff, you can come back.' The group Holcomb returns to is not the one he left. During his lengthy absence, the Steelers signed Patrick Queen to the richest free agent contract in team history and drafted Payton Wilson, who Holcomb once hosted when Holcomb was at North Carolina and Wilson was a coveted recruit. While Holcomb looks 'more chiseled' as Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick put it, that's not the only way in which he has changed. Watching from the sidelines during games let him take a step back and analyze things in real time that are kind of hard to come by when you're on the field five yards from the line of scrimmage. 'I'm 30 yards back watching the thing and I'm, like 'Oh, I know this, I know this is about to happen,'' he said. 'But it's like, hey, it's easy to see that from back here. But it has definitely helped seeing the forest or the trees kind of thing.' So much so that the 28-year-old could envision going into coaching one day, which his wife, Casey, is 'not too happy about." There were times last season when Holcomb certainly sounded like one. 'He's very vocal, he tries to help everyone out,' Wilson said. 'He knows a lot about the game. He studies a lot. It's cool to be around that guy to see how he watches film and diagnoses stuff.' Yet whatever coaching Holcomb might get into is for down the road. For now, he is focused on trying to get back to being the player who looked every bit worth the $18 million investment the Steelers made in him when they signed him in March 2023. He's less than thrilled that it took this long. Yet if he's learned anything over the last year-plus, it's that he can't take anything for granted. 'The day you think like, 'OK, I hit this milestone,' well, 24 hours later, that's over, got to get moving on to the next step," he said. 'I wasn't really like, focusing on like 'How many months is it until I can run' or anything like that. You're like, 'What do I got tomorrow?'' What Holcomb has now is a clean bill of health. Seven weeks from now, he'll be in training camp, where he'll be able to hit somebody hard for the first time in nearly two years. He's already practicing. During a drill last week, Holcomb would hit the blocking sled, then turn his attention to Wilson, who was holding a pad. The goal was for Holcomb to drive his shoulder into the pad. He did that, and in the process momentarily lifted the 240-pound Wilson off the ground a time or two before gently placing him back down. Maybe it was Holcomb sending a message to someone who took his place in the starting lineup. Or maybe Holcomb was just settling accounts. Wilson, after all, opted for N.C. State rather than the Tar Heels, though Wilson insisted it had nothing to do with his weekend spent with Holcomb on the North Carolina campus. 'No, not at all,' Wilson said, then added to laughter, 'It was more so like the 5,000 people that go to games there and that's it.' /hub/nfl
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb's long journey back after a gruesome knee injury is almost over
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cole Holcomb listened patiently and politely shook his head. No, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker isn't interested in reliving the gruesome knee injury that forced him to miss a season-and-a-half. Living through it once was punishment enough. Advertisement Holcomb was chasing after wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a Thursday night game in November 2023 when a diving teammate slammed into Holcomb's left leg, shredding multiple ligaments in his knee. How bad was it? The Amazon Prime crew broadcasting the game showed it in slow motion once and decided that was enough. The road back took longer than Holcomb, an admittedly impatient person, ever imagined. He was cleared to return to practice near the end of last season, but never did pull his No. 55 jersey over his increasingly broad shoulders when it counted. The Fear of Missing Out wasn't helped when he watched the middle of Pittsburgh's defense get gashed repeatedly during a five-game skid that culminated in a blowout loss to Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs. 'Definitely had some days where, you know, you just want to be out there and it's frustrating,' Holcomb said Tuesday, his forehead beaded with sweat after the fourth of the Steelers' six voluntary organized team activities. 'But you know, it's kind of just one of those take each day, one day at a time and just keep chopping.' While Holcomb's inherent confidence led him to believe he was always going to make it back, he knows nothing was guaranteed. The doctors told him there was a chance he'd never play again. It wasn't merely a scare tactic. Advertisement 'They basically were emphasizing how important the rehab was going to be,' he said. 'You know, if guys don't take it as serious and they don't put the work in, they won't be able to make it back. But if you put the work in, you do the extra stuff, you come every day, no matter how bad you don't want to, all that kind of stuff, you can come back.' The group Holcomb returns to is not the one he left. Fitting in During his lengthy absence, the Steelers signed Patrick Queen to the richest free agent contract in team history and drafted Payton Wilson, who Holcomb once hosted when Holcomb was at North Carolina and Wilson was a coveted recruit. Advertisement While Holcomb looks 'more chiseled' as Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick put it, that's not the only way in which he has changed. Watching from the sidelines during games let him take a step back and analyze things in real time that are kind of hard to come by when you're on the field five yards from the line of scrimmage. 'I'm 30 yards back watching the thing and I'm, like 'Oh, I know this, I know this is about to happen,'' he said. 'But it's like, hey, it's easy to see that from back here. But it has definitely helped seeing the forest or the trees kind of thing.' So much so that the 28-year-old could envision going into coaching one day, which his wife, Casey, is 'not too happy about." There were times last season when Holcomb certainly sounded like one. 'He's very vocal, he tries to help everyone out,' Wilson said. 'He knows a lot about the game. He studies a lot. It's cool to be around that guy to see how he watches film and diagnoses stuff.' Advertisement Yet whatever coaching Holcomb might get into is for down the road. For now, he is focused on trying to get back to being the player who looked every bit worth the $18 million investment the Steelers made in him when they signed him in March 2023. What's next He's less than thrilled that it took this long. Yet if he's learned anything over the last year-plus, it's that he can't take anything for granted. 'The day (during rehab) you think like, 'OK, I hit this milestone,' well, 24 hours later, that's over, got to get moving on to the next step," he said. 'I wasn't really like, focusing on like 'How many months is it until I can run' or anything like that. You're like, 'What do I got tomorrow?'' Advertisement What Holcomb has now is a clean bill of health. Seven weeks from now, he'll be in training camp, where he'll be able to hit somebody hard for the first time in nearly two years. He's already practicing. During a drill last week, Holcomb would hit the blocking sled, then turn his attention to Wilson, who was holding a pad. The goal was for Holcomb to drive his shoulder into the pad. He did that, and in the process momentarily lifted the 240-pound Wilson off the ground a time or two before gently placing him back down. Maybe it was Holcomb sending a message to someone who took his place in the starting lineup. Or maybe Holcomb was just settling accounts. Wilson, after all, opted for N.C. State rather than the Tar Heels, though Wilson insisted it had nothing to do with his weekend spent with Holcomb on the North Carolina campus. 'No, not at all,' Wilson said, then added to laughter, 'It was more so like the 5,000 people that go to games there and that's it.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham returns from torn triceps for Super Bowl
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles star defensive end Brandon Graham was cleared to return from a torn triceps suffered 11 weeks ago and will play in the Super Bowl against Kansas City. The 36-year-old Graham was thought to be done for the season after he was injured in a Nov. 24 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Graham was placed on injured reserve two days later, seemingly ending what he had called the final season of his career. As the Eagles kept winning, including all three NFC playoff games, Graham started to hint he could put on his No. 55 jersey — he considered it a good luck sign when the Eagles scored 55 points in the NFC title game — in the Super Bowl. Graham returned to practice as a limited participant last week and was listed as a full participant on Friday's injury report. He was officially back on the 53-man roster Saturday. Graham said this week in New Orleans that he envisioned himself running out of the tunnel for Super Bowl introductions. 'It'll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back,' Graham said. 'I know the team worked their butt off to get here and I want to be there for them.' Graham is one of two position players and four players overall left from the Eagles' Super Bowl championship team in the 2017 season. The Eagles' first-round pick out of Michigan in 2010, Graham said in training camp this would be his final season. His injury caused him to reexamine his choice, though his retirement decision isn't final. He is responsible for one of the great moments in Eagles history with his strip-sack of New England's Tom Brady in the Super Bowl with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter. Derek Barnett recovered and the Eagles hung on to win 41-33. Graham missed most of 2021 with a torn Achilles tendon, but came back the next season to get a career-high 11 sacks. Graham had 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games this season before he was injured. He holds the franchise record with 5 1/2 career postseason sacks. Graham played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack when Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 two years ago. The Chiefs on Saturday elevated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson from the practice squad. They did not activate wide receiver Skyy Moore, who has been on IR but had practiced in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Without Graham, the Eagles have enjoyed success using a three-player rush combination of Nolan Smith, Josh Sweat and Jalyx Hunt. 'I don't want to get in the way of the rhythm of what everybody already has,' Graham said. 'If I can just add anything, I want to give everything I've got.' __ AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this story. ___ AP NFL: Dan Gelston, The Associated Press
