Derrick Harmon Makes Progress for Steelers, but 3 Key Starters Ruled Out for Patriots Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be missing three starters on defense in Week 3 versus the New England Patriots. But it’s still possible first-round defensive lineman Derrick Harmon makes his NFL regular season debut Sunday.
On the team’s final injury report Friday, the Steelers listed Harmon as questionable. The rookie also fully practiced Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday.
Harmon has been sidelined since suffering a knee sprain during Week 3 of the preseason on August 21.
The Steelers also received a positive injury update on linebacker Patrick Queen. The veteran has been dealing with an oblique ailment this week, but he fully practiced Wednesday-Friday and doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Darius Slay and edge rusher T.J. Watt received veteran rest days throughout the week. All three players practiced Friday and don’t have injury designations either.
However, that was the end of the good injury news for the Steelers. Also Friday, the team ruled out cornerback Joey Porter Jr., safety DeShon Elliott and edge rusher Alex Highsmith.
Porter and Elliott also missed Week 2, which was a 31-17 Pittsburgh loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Rookie Derrick Harmon Could Make Steelers Debut in Week 3
Pundits feared the worst with Harmon because he left on a cart during the third week of the preseason. But he avoided a serious injury and actually didn’t even land on injured reserve.
An IR stint would have automatically ruled out Harmon for four games. But the team saw the rookie returning before October.
Assuming that mindset hasn’t changed, Harmon is set to make his regular season debut either Sunday or during Week 4.
The Steelers drafted Harmon at No. 21 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. At Oregon last season, he posted five sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four pass defenses and two forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh’s defense needs Harmon back to help against the run. The Steelers allowed an average of about 150 rushing yards in the first two games this season. Pittsburgh has also yielded a league-high four rushing touchdowns in two weeks.
Since he’s a rookie, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Steelers eased Harmon back into the lineup. But once he’s back up to speed, the 22-year-old is expected to start along the defensive line with All-Pro Cameron Heyward and former second-round pick Keeanu Benton.
Steelers to be Without Highsmith, Porter & Elliott
If Harmon is able to return, it will be a huge boost for the Steelers defense. But the unit will still be without one of its starting edge rushers and two starters in the secondary.
Highsmith has averaged about eight sacks per season over the past four years. Third-year edge rusher Nick Herbig will likely replace him in the starting lineup.
With two tackles for loss, a pass defense and interception, Herbig was one of Pittsburgh’s better defenders during Week 2.
Veterans Brandin Echols and Chuck Clark will probably continue to replace Porter and Elliott. At cornerback, though, Slay and Jalen Ramsey, who have played every defensive snaps for the Steelers this season, will start. Echols will likely receive playing time in nickel situations.
Clark is set to line up next to fellow safety Juan Thornhill in Elliott’s absence. Clark played 87.7% of the team’s defensive snaps during Week 2.
Under-fire Commanders veteran is already one miscue away from catastrophe
Since Adam Peters became general manager, the Washington Commanders have gone through eight different kickers, and the position remains a question mark.
First, the team signed Brandon McManus, ultimately releasing him less than three months later due to sexual assault allegations. He was ultimately cleared and went on to convert 95 percent of his field goals for the Green Bay Packers in 2024. To add insult to injury, he made a 56-yarder against Washington in Week 2 this year.
Ramiz Ahmed and Riley Patterson came on board after. Both struggled in training camp and pre-season, leading to the team trading for Cade York.
In Week 1, York went 0-for-2 on field goals and was subsequently cut. This kept the Commanders from having to send the Cleveland Browns a conditional seventh-round pick, which eventually became running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Matt Gay is already on the hot seat after two games with the Commanders
When Austin Seibert hit seven field goals to beat the New York Giants in Week 2, breaking the franchise record for field goals made in a game, it seemed the Commanders' kicking woes were a thing of the past.
In Week 9, Seibert injured his hip and missed the next two weeks. At the time, he had made 22-22 on extra points and had made 92.6% of his field goals. During his absence, Zane Gonzalez was perfect in every kicking metric.
Seibert returned in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys, but he wasn't healthy. The Commanders would go on to lose their third game in a row, and Seibert was subsequently put on injured reserve. This was ultimately his last game with the team.
Before Seibert’s success in 2024, the last time Washington had a kicker in the top-10 for field percentage was 201 when Dustin Hopkins finished eighth. Peters didn't bring Seibert back. He also cut Gonzalez to sign Matt Gay, giving him the most fully guaranteed money for a kicker on a one-year deal in NFL history.
Gay made 83.8% of his field goals in 2024 with the Indianapolis Colts, but was 3-for-9 on attempts of 50 yards or more. Throughout his career, he has only made 62.2% from 50-plus. He went 3-of-5 in the preseason, missing from 49 and 53 yards. In Week 2, he missed attempts from 52 and 58 yards but did connect from 51.
Hitting from 50-plus consistently has become table stakes for NFL teams. To date, kickers have made 31-of-37 kicks from 50 or more yards, for a strong 83.8% average.
The Commanders are also the only team in the division dealing with kicking issues. So, how long of a leash will Peters give Gay before pulling the plug? If the team decides to move on, there are some promising options available.
Ben Sauls went 21-of-24 during his final collegiate campaign at Pittsburgh, including 6-for-7 beyond 50 yards, before going undrafted. He was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this year after going 5-for-6 in the preseason.
Another option is Charlie Smyth, who is on the New Orleans Saints practice squad. He would need to be signed to the active roster to join the team. The Irish native and former Gaelic football goalkeeper is part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program and went 4-of-4 in the preseason, including making kicks from 50 and 52 yards.
Or why not bring back Seibert and give him another chance?
It will be interesting to see what Peters decides to do, in what could be one of the most important decisions of his tenure thus far.
