The Pittsburgh Steelers may have won their preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, but they didn’t escape without a major scare on the injury front. In Thursday night’s game, rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon had to leave early with a knee ailment.
Fortunately for Mike Tomlin’s crew, it appears to be nothing too scary after all. According to a Friday afternoon report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, it’s an MCL sprain for Harmon.
Steelers Avoided Worst-Case Scenario With Derrick Harmon Injury
Rapoport says the Steelers’ prized 2025 NFL Draft pickup is expected to miss “about a month” of action.
“Steelers first-round DT Derrick Harmon, who was ruled out with a knee injury last night, was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, sources say,” Rapoport’s tweet began. “He’s expected to be out about a month, which makes him a candidate to begin the year on IR.”
This is undoubtedly a win for Pittsburgh in the grand scheme of things. With that said, it’s still a bummer for both team and player. Harmon, the 21st overall pick back in April, could’ve benefitted from hitting the ground running as a rookie.
If Harmon does miss a full month, that could put him on the sideline for Weeks 1-3 of the regular season. Pittsburgh plays the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots in that span. Going on injured reserve would add Week 4’s outing against the Minnesota Vikings to the total. IR candidates must sit out a minimum of four games. The latter contest is scheduled for September 28.
At the time of his injury against Carolina, Harmon had logged an assisted tackle. The former Michigan State and Oregon standout left the game on a cart, raising concerns, but head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed a knee sprain after the game. That’s far better than a tear or even a full dislocation.
In the 2025 preseason, Harmon racked up 4 tackles and a sack.
Updated Look at Pittsburgh’s Defensive Line Depth Ahead of Week 1
Losing Harmon to start the season won’t sink the Steelers’ ship, even if things do become more difficult. The club’s first round of roster cuts kept the interior of the defensive line intact for the time being.
On the inside, Harmon is complemented by a multitude of players who can occupy some of the reps lost. Leading the way is star veteran Cameron Heyward. Heyward is currently in a contract dispute with the Steelers and although it remains on the table that he could miss game time, that doesn’t seem likely. He returned to practice in full capacity this week, participating in individual and team drills.
Elsewhere, Keeanu Benton is a 2023 second-round pick who has some tremendous underlying metrics as a pass rusher. Rookie Yahya Black, a fifth-round pick, and veteran Daniel Ekuale are also in the picture. Someone like Isaiahh Loudermilk and/or Logan Lee can also be accounted for.
Along the edge, superstar T.J. Watt is back on a hefty new contract and has some help as well. Whether it be rookie Jack Sawyer or a more proven option such as linebacker Alex Highsmith, the Steelers will be able to get after the quarterback.
Having Harmon able to eventually get back into the fold this season is a plus.
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