The Steelers’ trade chatter has mostly centered on wide receiver and cornerback help, but another name has surfaced in the mix: linebacker Cole Holcomb.
Albert Breer of SI.com suggested earlier today that Pittsburgh could consider moving Holcomb before the trade deadline. If that happens, the most natural landing spot would appear to be the Detroit Lions, who just watched inside linebacker Jack Campbell go down last week with what was clearly a severe injury.
Campbell has movement in his legs and said his upper body was coming along, but the outlook for his 2026 season is bleak. At this point, the focus for Campbell is bigger than football - it’s about being able to walk and maintaining a quality of life above the game.
That’s where Holcomb enters the picture. The veteran has barely been used on defense this season, logging just 22 snaps there in 2026. His bigger role has come on special teams, where he has played 134 snaps.
Pittsburgh’s addition of Elandon Roberts makes Holcomb easier to consider moving, but there’s a catch. Roberts isn’t going to fill Holcomb’s special teams role, which means Mike McCarthy and special teams coach Danny Crossman would need someone ready to step in and handle that work. That’s not always a simple fix, especially when the player you’re dealing with is a veteran presence you value in that phase.
For Detroit, the appeal is obvious enough. Brian Branch has already returned to the secondary, and safety Kerby Joseph is close to coming back as well, but Campbell is the kind of player who can’t really be replaced. Holcomb would at least give the Lions a low-cost option with experience, steadiness and the kind of locker room value teams like to have around.
If Pittsburgh does decide to deal him, a day three pick is the kind of return the Steelers could probably expect.
In Other News...
Steelers Need Aaron Rodgers To Change Whats Holding This Offense Back
Aaron Rodgers has kept the Steelers operating in a way that looks familiar to him, with a quick, spread-out passing approach that shows up again and again when the field shrinks near the goal line. Even with Pittsburghs ground game humming and the offense showing real efficiency on the run, the overall structure still tilts toward the pass in scoring territory, and that has left the unit searching for a better finish when drives get tight.
The bye week arrives at a useful time for a team that has found success on the ground but has not fully leaned into it where it matters most. If the Steelers want to turn more of those red-zone trips into touchdowns, the next step may be less about Rodgers doing what he has always done and more about the offense embracing the part of the attack that has carried it so far. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Highsmith Sees Something Different In This Steelers Defense
The Steelers defense looked a lot sharper in the rematch with Cleveland, holding the Browns to season lows in points and rushing yards on the way to a 27-6 win. It was the kind of performance that fit what Alex Highsmith has been seeing from that side of the ball lately, with Pittsburghs defense ranking third in scoring defense and sitting third in takeaways through eight games.
Highsmith pointed to a noticeable difference in how the unit has operated since defensive coordinator Patrick Graham changed where he calls the game from. Players have credited that move with helping the communication and overall flow, and the results have shown up in the way Pittsburgh has tightened the screws on opponents. The bigger question now is whether that cleaner operation can keep holding up as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Player Christian Kuntz Just Earned Recognition Pittsburgh Fans Will Love
Christian Kuntz has built a reputation in Pittsburgh that goes well beyond his work as the Steelers long snapper. Since taking over the role in 2021, he has used his platform to stay active in the community, and his foundation, Kuntz 4 Ki6s, has helped raise significant funds for local families while also backing events and partnerships aimed at underserved youth.
His latest recognition fits that pattern. Kuntz was honored as the Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP after making a $10,000 donation tied to a new resource room at Pittsburgh Morrow, another example of how he keeps finding ways to turn his visibility into support for people around the city. [Read more 🡒]