Pittsburgh Steelers put Cordarrelle Patterson on non-football injury list, two others on PUP list to open training camp

The Steelers signed Cordarrelle Patterson from the Falcons in the spring within hours after the NFL drastically altered the kickoff rules. But he’s sidelined for now as Pittsburgh began training camp.

The team also placed linebacker Cole Holcomb and defensive lineman Dean Lowry on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List. Holcomb wasn’t a surprise. He’s still not quite healthy from surgery to help heal a significant knee injury. Meanwhile, the Steelers signed Lowry earlier this year after the lineman spent last season with the Vikings. He suffered a pectoral injury the weekend before Thanksgiving last year and Minnesota placed him on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Patterson, who is a running back and return specialist, strained his hamstring in “non-football related work.” It’s why he’s on the Active/NFI List (Non-Football Injury List).

The two defenders made the PUP list. It protects a player’s 53-man roster spot in case either of the defensive players needs to begin the season on injured reserve. The same basic rules apply to Patterson as well.

Pittsburgh players reported to Latrobe, Pa., Wednesday. They did conditioning work after check in. The first full practice is today.

Tomlin said Patterson should be considered “day to day” for Steelers practices. The Steelers coach didn’t offer many details other than to say Patterson strained his hamstring while training in the off-season. But the Steelers have big plans for him, given the changes to kickoffs. Consider that Patterson owns the NFL record with nine returns for touchdowns. Plus, he earned first-team All Pro four times.

Here’s a video clip of Patterson from June’s minicamp.

KR/ RB/ WR Cordarrelle Patterson working with the RBs today pic.twitter.com/z8K0Mk1rWi

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) June 11, 2024

Holcomb still recovering from gruesome leg injury

It’s unclear when Holcomb can return. He suffered an injury so gruesome that the Amazon Prime cameras on hand for Thursday Night Football wouldn’t show replays. Holcomb needed to spend the night in the hospital. There’s not much known as to how doctors treated the injury, only that it was more involved than repairing an ACL tear.

Holcomb was with the Steelers when phase three of OTAs started in May. However, he could not practice with them.

“It’s been a grind,” Holcomb told reporters. “It’s gonna be a grind. But it’s one of those injuries that all you’ve got to do is just [expletive] work,” Holcomb said. “I can do that. I have no problem doing that. I’ll do whatever I gotta do to get back.”

As for Lowry, the Steelers knew about his injury when they signed him to help with the pass rush. He spent his first seven seasons with the Packers, then played last year for the Vikings. In his career, he has started 84 games and notched 266 tackles, 143 of them solo stops. He notched 15.5 sacks, with 23 tackles for loss, 32 quarterback hits, 17 passes defensed and one interception. He recovered five fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.