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The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a rare special teams spark to a familiar flag from Cole Holcomb, and the veteran linebacker’s history on opening kickoffs is starting to carry real consequences for him.
Pittsburgh Steelers Cole Holcomb pulls dirt out of his helmet after recovering a fumble during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on October 29, 2023.
Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and special teams contributor Cole Holcomb is now treading dangerously close to an NFL suspension. Another blindside block flag on an opening kickoff has put the veteran in a spot no player wants to be in, especially one at this stage of his career.
The latest penalty also wiped out what has been the only big-time play we have seen from Kaden Wetjen as a returner for Pittsburgh.
Cole Holcomb personal foul facts
Fined more than $11,000 for a blindside block against the Bengals in Week 3
Flagged for another blindside block on an opening kickoff
Three major personal fouls result in a suspension
Why Holcomb’s latest penalty matters
After Week 3, Holcomb was fined more than $11,000 for a blindside block against the Cincinnati Bengals on the opening drive of that game. At the time, it looked like one costly mistake on a single play.
In reality, it was the first strike.
The NFL views a blindside block as a “major infraction,” and that is where the trouble starts. Rack up three of those, and you get suspended.
Then came an eerily similar scenario. Once again on the opening kickoff, Holcomb was called for yet another blindside block. That means he is now officially one more personal foul away from being suspended by the league, should he be fined and not win an appeal.
It doesn’t have to be a blindside block next time, either. Any personal foul the league considers major, such as unnecessary roughness, would count toward that total. That leaves Holcomb with zero margin for error every time he lines up on special teams.
Does this matter for the Steelers in the long run?
From a pure depth chart standpoint, the impact is limited. Holcomb isn’t going to be playing a lot of inside linebacker for the Steelers unless things go terribly wrong at the position.
His role is on special teams, and that is exactly where both of these flags have come from. Two blindside blocks, both on opening kickoffs, is a pattern rather than a fluke.
Still, this isn’t good news for Pittsburgh. Losing a core special teams player to a suspension would create a hole in a unit that is already searching for consistency, and it would come entirely from a self-inflicted wound.
To me, the most frustrating part is that this keeps happening to a seasoned veteran. Young players learning the rules on kickoff coverage and return blocking are one thing. A player with Holcomb’s experience should know where the line is, and after a fine of more than $11,000, he should be adjusting his approach.
Lost in the frustration over Kaden Wetjen’s return
A lot of people were upset with Holcomb for negating Wetjen’s return. That frustration is fair. The Steelers have been waiting for a spark in the return game, and when one finally showed up, a flag erased it.
But lost in all of that is the bigger issue for Holcomb himself. One penalty wiped out a play, and one more could cost him games.
The Steelers need his contributions on special teams, but they can’t afford to have him on the sideline because of a third major personal foul that everyone could see coming.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Paris in a 3-way tie atop the AFC North after surviving the Buccaneers in overtime. Plenty of players stepped up in the comeback, and a few others have real work to do.