Bills QB Josh Allen Gets Surprising Snub After Loss to Falcons

Despite winning their first game of the 2025-26 campaign, the Pittsburgh Steelers left plenty of meat on the bone. That’s largely due to an underwhelming defensive performance which saw the New York Jets score 32 points.

That won’t cut it on most Sundays. Head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin both know it. Are changes needed? In regards to game plan and overall approach, potentially. What about personnel? Many believe one piece should be seeing the field more.

In Week 1’s opener, linebacker Cole Holcomb played eight special teams snaps but didn’t log a single defensive one. Following a rough game for the defense, that development has some fans frustrated.

Mike Tomlin Drops Message on Steelers Not Using Cole Holcomb in Week 1

Was it an intentional decision by Tomlin and his coaching staff? Yes, albeit not anything personal. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he explained that the Steelers were merely doing what it took to bring home the win.

Tomlin didn’t hold back with his response.

“We’re just playing to win the game,” Tomlin said. “Certainly, if opportunity presents itself from a matchup standpoint, we’re open to it, but we don’t feel obligated for participation. This is not Little League Football. We’re going to assimilate a group that we think is capable of winning certain matchups in certain moments, and certainly Cole has had a good process. We’re happy to have him back from injury, and I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity in the not-too-distant future.”

The injury element is certainly valid for Holcomb. On one hand, he’s a long way removed from the brutal knee ailment that made him miss all of last season. With that said, there are still physical and — perhaps more importantly — mental hurdles that players must clear after catastrophic injuries like that. Pittsburgh won’t know Holcomb is ready for an increased workload until he shows it. He must first receive the snaps, though, which creates a catch-22.

This preseason may have displayed that readiness. In 82 snaps, Holcomb posted a solid 62.8 Pro Football Focus defense grade. It was a well-rounded profile for run defense (65.2), tackling (61.9) and coverage (60.0) alike. That, combined with the struggles of players like Payton Wilson, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen in Week 1, contributed to the sentiment that Holcomb should be getting real reps.

There’s a clear hierarchy, however, that Holcomb has a clear place in. Only time will tell whether that role changes or not.

Pittsburgh Defense Primed for Week 2 Rebound Against Seahawks?

There isn’t much sugarcoating how poor the Steelers’ defense was, even in a Week 1 win. Former Pittsburgh quarterback Justin Fields had a clean performance, going 16-of-22 passing for 218 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two scores. Paired with running back Breece Hall‘s 107 yards on 19 attempts, it was a clear recipe for success. Both Queen and Tomlin acknowledged that improvement must take place.

Is Week 2 the time? Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks (1:00 p.m. ET) presents an opportunity. A year ago, the Geno Smith-led offense ranked 19th in EPA, per SumerSports. The franchise has since moved on to Sam Darnold at quarterback, but the regular-season opener’s results didn’t inspire a ton of confidence.

Against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, Darnold threw for just 150 yards. The offense as a whole mustered all of 13 points. It averaged a measly 4.6 yards per play and went 3-for-10 on third down. Things for the Seahawks are clearly a work in progress following a 10-7 campaign.

That should be music to the Steelers’ ears, regardless of what Holcomb’s role is over the weekend.