FOXBOROUGH, Ma. — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is making his name heard in his first NFL game. Harmon has three pressures on the day, and a half sack with Cam Heyward.
Harmon is playing in a backup role with defensive lineman Yahya Black starting; however, in his limited snaps, Harmon has continued to make an impact in run defense and as a pass rusher.
After missing two games with an MCL sprain suffered in the team’s final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, Harmon is suiting up and making a real impact for the defense.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said that Harmon will be on a play count.
“We’ll be pretty judicious with his snaps and try to work him back,” Austin said. “He’s probably gonna lack some football conditioning, some football shape.”
The initial prognosis was four to six weeks, and it is now in the middle of that timeline. If he does not return this week, it is still possible that Harmon returns for the Steelers’ game in Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings given how well he has played in this game.
