The Pittsburgh Steelers will start the season without one of their top rookies. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon is expected to be out for a lengthy amount of time after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain, per multiple reports.
Harmon suffered a knee injury during the Steelers’ third and final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. The rookie was carted off the field as a result of the injury, but later returned to the sideline during the second half. Pittsburgh went on to win Thursday’s game against the Panthers, 19-10, going 2-1 in the preseason overall.
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Though the injury is not as bad as originally feared, Harmon is expected to miss a month while recovering from the injury, making him candidate to start the season on injured reserve, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
However, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Harmon is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but that two of those weeks will be happening before the NFL regular season starts in September; as a result, Harmon is not expected to end up on IR.
If the rookie tackle were to be placed on IR, he would have to miss the first four games of the season.
Harmon was selected 21st overall by the Steelers out of Oregon, where he transferred last year after three seasons with Michigan State. He was named second-team All-Big Ten last season and was a second-team All-American.
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Pittsburgh kicks off its regular season on Sept. 7 with an away game against the New York Jets. If Harmon starts off the year on IR, he would be eligible to return to the team on Oct. 12 for a home game against the Cleveland Browns, since the Steelers have an early bye in Week 5.
Harmon is listed as the team’s first-string defensive end on the Steelers’ depth chart. With him out, second-stringer Logan Lee and third-stringer Kyler Baugh will step in.
