Steelers: Pittsburgh LB Cole Holcomb carted off the field vs. Titans after gruesome injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers are amid an AFC football battle against the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers led the game after the 1st quarter, but misfortune struck the team as the Titans made a run. LB Cole Holcomb was carted off the field after a gruesome leg injury, per Adam Schefter.
Deandre Hopkins caught a pass and burst down the field before Holcomb assisted in bringing him down. Holcomb landed awkwardly and began clutching his left knee in pain. The Pittsburgh linebacker will likely not return to the game.
Hopefully, Holcomb can make a speedy recovery. The 27-year-old has racked up 31 solo tackles and two forced fumbles during the 2023-24 season so far.
His absence is a huge blow for the Steelers defense, who come off a Week 8 game where they gave up 377 total yards of offense to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Holcomb was vital for Pittsburgh’s resistance in the game after he had six solo tackles and four assists.
Motravius Adams also left the Titans game in the 1st quarter with an ankle injury. All hope is not lost though. Pittsburgh still has plenty of personnel to get stops against Tennessee’s offense. The Steelers look for T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to continue to lead the linebacking duties.
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The Green Bay Packers are traveling out east this week to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers have to have the most confidence they’ve had since the beginning of the season when they started 2-1 (and were just one fourth quarter collapse away from 3-0).
Last week the defense showed out against the Los Angeles Rams, holding them to just three total points. Albeit against a backup quarterback, however, any time you hold an NFL offense to three points it is something to build on. The Packers have the same opportunity this week going up against Kenny Pickett. Pickett isn’t a backup quarterback by any means, but he is far from the elites in the league.
Innis Gaines, a defensive back on the practice squad, was promoted by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The move is expected to be much-needed for their depth in a suddenly shorthanded secondary.
There was no need for the Packers to make a corresponding move since they had 52 players on their roster.
Gaines, listed as a safety by the Packers, was the primary backup in the slot during training camp and the preseason. During practice this week, he went through drills at the same position.
“Thump” is the nickname that was given to Gaines during his junior year in high school due to his physical play style. Gaines’ resume and gritty play style in high school made an impression on TCU because they offered him a scholarship. In 2018, he was on the Pro Football Focus Second-Team All-Big 12. However, things quickly took a turn.
Gaines started for the first time as a junior at TCU, but six games into the season, he was sidelined with a torn ACL. Fast-forward to his senior season, and Gaines was starting once again in Week 1. Tragedy struck for a second time. Eight games into the season, Gaines suffered another torn ACL. In 2020, Gaines went un-drafted.
Despite his setbacks, “Thump” never gave up on his NFL dream. He worked diligently to rehab his injuries. But in the meantime, he got a job delivering food as a DoorDash driver.
Late in the 2020 NFL season, the Packers took a chance on Gaines, and scheduled a workout to see what he was capable of. Green Bay must have liked what they saw because they offered Gaines a contract in 2021.
Gaines spent all but one week on the Packers’ practice squad in 2021. However, in 2022 the Packers released him with an injury settlement in late August.
After more rehab, the Packers brought him back to the practice squad in October and promoted him to the 53 on Nov. 29, completing his improbably journey.
Not only is Gaines an NFL starter, but he is also a regular DoorDash customer. When it comes to tipping the drivers, Gaines says, “Whatever they tell you to do, I raise it a couple more bucks because I know how hard they work. I don’t do $20 every time; I’m not rich yet.”
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