The Steelers had a scare in their preseason finale against the Panthers when first-round rookie Derrick Harmon went down with a knee injury and had to be carted to the locker room. For a moment, there was concern that the defensive tackle’s debut season might be in jeopardy. Fortunately, the damage wasn’t as severe as it first appeared.

Mike Tomlin confirmed after the game that Harmon sustained a knee sprain. A day later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarified it was an MCL sprain with an expected recovery of around a month. Even that outlook might be on the cautious side.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team does not plan to place Harmon on injured reserve and believes he may only have to sit out the season opener.

A Week 1 return against the Jets is off the table, but the Steelers are optimistic they won’t be without Derrick Harmon for long. Mike Tomlin’s group visits New England in Week 3 before heading overseas to face Minnesota in Dublin, and those games now stand as more realistic targets for the rookie’s debut.

Some national and local reporters, including Ian Rapoport and Brooke Pryor, had pointed to injured reserve as the logical move given the standard recovery window for MCL sprains. That path would have sidelined Harmon until at least Week 6 against Cleveland, with the team’s bye falling in Week 5. Instead, the Steelers are choosing to keep him on the 53-man roster. By avoiding IR, they preserve the flexibility to bring him back sooner if his recovery trends toward the early end of the 4–6 week timeline.

The Steelers will deploy a committee approach to replace Harmon’s expected snaps. Yahya Black earned significant playing time through his impressive summer performances, positioning him for expanded opportunities. Veterans Daniel Ekuale and Isaiahh Loudermilk will shoulder increased responsibilities in the rotation. Starters Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward might see slightly higher snap counts initially. However, the coaching staff remains cautious about overworking Heyward given his age and injury history.

The timeline remains fluid, but Pittsburgh’s confidence in Harmon’s quick recovery suggests he won’t miss significant time. Whether it’s one game or three, the rookie should return sooner rather than later. But when the Steelers are back in the spotlight as Mike Tomlin’s announcement about Derrick Harmon sparks serious questions about Rodgers’ backup.

Mike Tomlin addresses Will Howard’s concerning hand injury

Aaron Rodgers brings Super Bowl hopes to Pittsburgh, but the Steelers just hit their first major speed bump of the season. Rookie quarterback Will Howard suffered a hand injury during Tuesday’s practice, creating immediate concerns about backup depth behind their new franchise signal-caller. Mike Tomlin delivered the unfortunate news during his media session with reporters. The injury affects Howard’s throwing hand, which represents worst-case scenario territory for any quarterback. “I guess the big news is that Will Howard left (practice) with a hand injury that’s being evaluated,” Tomlin explained to reporters. The timing couldn’t be worse, with the regular season rapidly approaching.

The injury occurred during what should have been a routine play. “I think (Howard’s injury) came on an exchange from center, but I didn’t have eyes on it. It was his right hand,” Tomlin added, providing crucial details about the incident. Center exchanges represent basic football fundamentals, making this injury particularly frustrating for the coaching staff. Howard’s injury timeline remains unclear, as medical evaluations continue. The 23-year-old rookie might require an MRI to determine the full extent of the damage. Pittsburgh will announce those details once they become available.

The sixth-round draft pick was supposed to compete with Mason Rudolph for backup duties behind Rodgers. That competition now takes a backseat to recovery and rehabilitation. Rudolph and Skylar Thompson will handle increased practice reps while Howard heals. Preseason games suddenly become more critical for evaluating depth. Rudolph and Thompson need extensive work to prove their readiness as emergency options. Rodgers will likely see minimal preseason action, making backup preparation even more essential. Howard’s rookie season was designed for learning and development under Tomlin and Rodgers. This setback threatens that valuable mentorship opportunity, but the Steelers remain optimistic about his long-term potential despite this early adversity.