Derrick Harmon Could Make NFL Debut for Steelers vs. Patriots After Knee Injury

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon could make his NFL debut in Sunday's Week 3 game against the New England Steelers after being listed as "questionable" on Friday's injury report.

Harmon, who has been sidelined for two games while recovering from a preseason knee injury, was a full participant in Friday's practice.

He could see limited snaps Sunday if he is cleared to play against the Patriots, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday.

"We'll see where he ends up, but I think, if it does come to it, we'll be pretty judicious with his snaps and try to work him back," Austin said about Harmon (h/t Steelers.com's Teresa Varley). "More importantly, he's probably going to lack some football conditioning, football shape. So, you don't want to throw a guy in there that's really not quite ready in those regards.

"I like the progress he's making, and we'll just kind of see where we end up."

The Steelers will be missing multiple injured defenders this weekend, including linebacker Alex Highsmith and safety DeShon Elliott. Defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk was also placed on IR on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Brian Batko and PennLive's Nick Farabugh shared videos of Harmon's Friday return to full practice.

The Steelers defense has allowed more than 30 points against in each of the team's first two contests of the 2025 season, in part due to 299 rushing yards allowed through two games.

Austin's struggling run defense will once more be put to the test against the Patriots, a team that just racked up 122 rushing yards in a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Harmon, pegged as an eventual replacement for Cam Heyward, was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft out of Oregon after leading all FBS defensive linemen in pressures during his final college season.

By June he had been named the team's starting left defensive end, according to defensive line coach Karl Dunbar (h/t Nick Farabaugh).

Harmon impressed during the preseason, recording a sack against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his second game in black and gold.

His regular-season NFL debut was delayed when he suffered a sprained right knee in the Steelers' Aug. 21 preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin originally characterized the injury as "week-to-week." The Steelers didn't place Harmon on IR, indicating hope for a return sometime before Week 5.

The Steelers will hope Harmon's potential return for Week 3 will help the Pittsburgh defense stop Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and TreVeyon Henderson from finding as much success as they did last week against the Dolphins.