STEELERS ANNOUNCE SHOCKING INJURY UPDATE: DERRICK HARMON'S RECOVERY TAKES A TURN FOR THE BETTER, BUT 3 STAR PLAYERS RULED OUT FOR WEEK 3!
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.
Covert: ‘85 Bears would have beaten Dolphins by similar score in Super Bowl
Our next episode of ‘85 at 40 has dropped, and we spoke with Hall of Fame Tackle Jimbo Covert!
The Chicago Bears legend joined the podcast to discuss the greatness of the ‘85 Bears, the offensive line being the unsung heroes of that team, what it was like blocking for Walter Payton and Jim McMahon, and what it was like to practice against that defense.
He also discussed his relationship with Dan Marino, the lone loss to the Miami Dolphins this year. However, when we asked him if the team really wanted to get revenge against the Dolphins in the Super Bowl (Miami had lost to New England in the AFC Championship game), his answer was interesting.
“It didn’t really matter,” Covert explained. “At the end of the day, it didn’t really matter if you played the Dolphins in the Super Bowl and beat them, you still would be 18-1. You wouldn’t be undefeated. Beating them wouldn’t make you undefeated, and I don’t think it would have changed our legacy either… Would I have rather have played the Dolphins in the Super Bowl? Absolutely. I think it would have been a hell of a game. I think the score would have been similar to what we beat the Patriots by. I think our team was on a roll, and we would have had a much different game plan offensively as well.”
Jim gave some really thoughtful, fantastic answers. It’s a podcast that is well worth your time.
If you want to check out the video version of the interview, you can do that on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube page below:
If you want to listen to the podcast, you can do so on the 2nd City Gridiron Podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts, or use the player below:
Our
