by: Alex Byington 45 minutes ago _AlexByington
Aug 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) is introduced for a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was reportedly diagnosed with a sprained MCL after injuring his knee in Thursday night’s preseason game vs. the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Harmon is expected to be out “about a month, which makes him a candidate to begin the year on IR (injured reserve),” Rapoport added.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Harmon suffered the sprained knee during Thursday’s final preseason game after the rookie big man out of Oregon had to be carted to the locker room midway through the second quarter.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Harmon was “in tears with a towel over his head as he rode on the back of a cart to the locker room. However, Harmon walked back onto the Steelers sideline and sat on the bench in the second half.
If the Steelers do put Harmon on IR to open the 2025 season, he’ll be unavailable for the first four weeks but would be eligible to return by Week 5, which is Pittsburgh’s bye week, potentially providing the former Oregon defensive lineman a grace period in his rehab.
Pittsburgh put some quality draft capital into Harmon, selecting him with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The hope is he can become a quality player in the middle of the defensive line, continuing a great tradition within the Steelers organization.