After struggling to figure out the inside linebacker position in recent seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to find all the right answers this offseason with the additions of veterans Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander in free agency.
Those answers showed up on the field, too, through the first eight games as the Steelers’ three-man rotation at the position was playing rather well and slotting into roles quite nicely.
Now things will have to change due to the season-ending injury suffered by Holcomb Thursday night in Week Nine against the Tennessee Titans.
For head coach Mike Tomlin, the injury will force the Steelers to go back to a more traditional inside linebacker rotation featuring Roberts and Alexander with one coming off the field in sub-package, rather than the three-man rotation Pittsburgh was utilizing when all were healthy.