Derrick Harmon’s Uncertain Knee Injury Keeps Steelers Fans on Edge: NFL News | Times of India

During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon suffered a knee injury and had to be carted off the field. The injury occurred in the second quarter of the game. Harmon, a first-round pick, was anticipated to start Week 1 of the regular season. His health status raises major concerns ahead of the season’s kickoff.

In a post-game press conference, Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin offered some information regarding Harmon’s injury. “Knee sprain of some description. He’s being evaluated,” Tomlin reported to journalists. When questioned further, Tomlin confirmed that it was indeed a knee sprain. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Harmon’s injury may cause him to miss several weeks, although he has fortunately managed to avoid a season-ending injury.

To determine the severity of Harmon’s injury, an MRI is scheduled to be conducted on Friday. Given the current estimates, there are doubts regarding Harmon’s participation in the September 8 opening match against the New York Jets. The player’s injury appears serious as Harmon had to be escorted to the blue medical tent before being taken off the field in a cart. Interestingly, the 22-year-old player was later seen walking without assistance on the sideline in street clothes, which has slightly alleviated the concerns.

Harmon’s injury could pose significant challenges for the Steelers’ defensive line. The player’s impressive performance during the preseason had earned him a spot as the Steelers’ starting left defensive end. Harmon’s absence, even if just for a few weeks, is a considerable drawback for the defensive team that has already had to handle early-career injuries with recent draft picks like Troy Fautanu, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III.

If Harmon fails to recover in time for the season’s commencement, the Steelers might look to fifth-round rookie Yahya Black as a potential substitute. Yahya Black has demonstrated his potential, achieving back-to-back sacks in the second half of the match against Carolina. The Steelers could also seek external recruitments to strengthen their depth at the defensive tackle position.

Harmon, who transferred to Oregon from Michigan State, was picked 21st overall in April’s NFL Draft. During the NFL Combine, he recorded an impressive 6-foot-4, 313 pounds, and ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash, which is unusual speed given his size. Upon completing his college career, he accomplished 45 tackles and five sacks in 2023.