The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially reported to Latrobe, PA, and with training camp underway, Steelers fans are excited for the upcoming football season. Steeler Nation had the opportunity to hear from various players as they arrived to their dorms at Saint Vincent College.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin looks on during a game.
On Wednesday afternoon, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin held a press conference. During his time with the media, he shared some disappointing news involving three players: Cordarrelle Patterson, Dean Lowry, and Cole Holcomb.
“We’ve got three guys that will be on the list. We’ve got two PUP guys, Dean Lowry and Cole Holcomb, obviously with a pre-existing injury. C. Patterson will be on the non-football injury list. He has a hammy that he hurt down south in training. We’ve got three guys that will start off kind of as non-participants in this process.”
Holcomb was having a great 2023 season with the Steelers before suffering a severe knee injury. It was pretty evident early on that Holcomb's injury was going to take a lengthy time to heal. His recovery is progressing well, but he's not yet ready to return to football, which isn’t surprising to Steelers fans. The linebacker position improved via free agency and the draft this offseason. Steelers fans are eager to get Holcomb back from injury.
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Steelers' Cole Holcomb leaves the game on a cart after suffering a season ending knee injury.
Lowry was brought in this offseason to provide a veteran presence on the defensive line. However, the most surprising news came when Tomlin announced that Patterson suffered a hamstring injury during offseason training.
Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson Starting Year On Active/NFI List
The Steelers signed Patterson to a two-year deal worth $6 million, perfectly timed with the NFL's announcement of new kickoff rules. Having a dynamic return specialist like Patterson could be a major asset for the Steelers, provided he can get back on the field.
Cordarelle Patterson is tied for 1st in the NFL for the most touchdowns this season with 5 total.
— Sports and Fitness Digest (@SportsFitDigest) October 4, 2021
*4 receiving
*1 rushing
He is tied with WR Cooper Kupp and RB Aaron Jones
He also has the 8th best kick return averagepic.twitter.com/RwX2jofXXb
Patterson was expected to play a crucial role as a return man, but there were also rumors about him having a role as a running back. Originally drafted as a wide receiver, Patterson thrived as a running back under new Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith's offense with the Atlanta Falcons.
His success in Smith's system led some media pundits to speculate that he might have a significant role in the offense in Pittsburgh. Steelers fans are hopeful he recovers quickly and can return to practice soon.
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Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson runs with the football during offseason workouts.
Excitement is building in Pittsburgh as the Steelers made significant moves this offseason, improving in several areas. One of the most exciting acquisitions was Patterson, whose health is now a concern for fans.
At 33 years old, Patterson's recovery timeline remains unclear, as Tomlin did not specify it. While the severity of his injury is unknown, it was serious enough for Tomlin to mention and for the Steelers to place him on the NFI list.
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