The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line was already going to be tested to open the season with first-round pick Derrick Harmon expected to miss Week 1. Now, the unit could be really tested because of an injury to Keeanu Benton.
DK Pittsburgh Sports’ Chris Halicke and PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh reported Sunday that Benton is dealing with an upper-body issue.
“Keeanu Benton is banged up. That’s kind of the big news of today,” Farabaugh said in a YouTube Live video.
“Benton is dealing with some sort of upper-body ailment that is going to keep him out for a little bit. I don’t think it’s going to threaten Week 1. It doesn’t sound like it. They expect him to play there, but it could limit his participation leading up to that game.”
It’s obviously great news that Benton should still play in Week 1. But another starting defensive linemen dealing with an injury after Harmon left the team’s preseason finale with a knee issue isn’t ideal.
Steelers Now’s Brendan Howe wrote Harmon has an MCL sprain. Harmon isn’t expected to be placed on injured reserve to begin the season. But The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac characterized the earliest return date for Harmon is Week 2.
Steelers Dealing With Multiple Defensive Line Issues After Keeanu Benton Injury
The Steelers are going through the wringer with their defensive line at the moment.
In the last week, both Harmon and Benton developed injury concerns. Cameron Heyward is the last remaining healthy starting defensive lineman for the team.
While Heyward is the All-Pro of the group and a defensive captain, he hasn’t practiced much this month because of a contract standoff.
On August 11, Heyward told reporters he “is prepared to sit” regular season games in an effort to land a new deal.
It’s still not likely. If Benton and Harmon recover quicker than expected, the Steelers projected starting defensive line could be together in September.
But there’s also a scenario where the Steelers are missing all three starting defensive linemen in Week 1.
“Heyward is practicing with the team, fully participating since last Tuesday,” Halicke wrote. “However, should he follow through on that threat and both Harmon and Benton are in jeopardy of not playing in Week 1, that’s about the worst-case scenario for the team.”
If Heyward really wants to play hard ball with his contract situation, he could use the Harmon and Benton injuries as leverage to get a new deal.
Benton Returns to Practice Monday: Report
Clearly, the Steelers defensive line has become a fluid situation. But fluid doesn’t always have to be bad.
Halicke reported Monday that Benton was back on the practice field to begin the week. Halicke didn’t indicate in what capacity Benton practiced, but him being on the field is still a good sign.
The Steelers made a movement to youth along their defensive line this offseason. They moved on from veterans Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams then drafted Harmon and Yahya Black.
Since 2023, the Steelers have also selected Benton and Logan Lee in the draft. In 2021, Pittsburgh picked Isaiahh Loudermilk during the fifth round.
Lee and Loudermilk were already expected to see more opportunities without Harmon. They could practice more with the first-team defense if Benton is also not available.
The Steelers also have defensive linemen Daniel Ekuale, Esezi Otomewo, and Domenique Davis on their roster. However, not all of those linemen will be available for Week 1.
The team still has several cuts to make to get the roster down to 53 players by 4 pm ET on Tuesday.
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