Derrick Harmon injury update: Steelers rookie suffers MCL sprain; here's when he could return

Derrick Harmon avoided a major injury and could return soon. The Steelers' rookie suffered a knee injury during the preseason finale against the Panthers.

Published on: Aug 23, 2025, 03:36:55 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Derrick Harmon avoided a major injury and could return soon. The Pittsburgh Steelers' rookie, who suffered a knee injury during the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, was carted off the field. The 22-year-old was visibly emotional as he left the game. However, he received a positive update on Friday.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon suffered an injury vs Panthers (AP)

Harmon suffered an MCL sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The reporter added that the defensive lineman could be back within a month, which means he will make his NFL debut this season.

When could Derrick Harmon return?

As per Rapoport's one-month timeline, plus some recovery time, Harmon could make a return in Week 4 for the Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, or Week 6 at home against the Cleveland Browns. Week 5 is a bye.

Whenever Derrick Harmon takes the field, he will be expected to lead the defensive line.

Steelers DE depth chart

Coordinator Teryl Austin will be going with a 3-4 base scheme formation this season. Harmon is expected to start at the DE spot.

Against the Panthers, Harmon, Logan Lee, and Kyler Baugh led the side.

While Harmon is out, defensive tackles Isaiahh Loudermilk and Esezi Otomewo might end up rotating at the position.

Harmon spent three years at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon for his senior season in college. In 14 games for the Ducks, he had 45 tackles (11 for loss), five sacks, four passes defended, two fumbles forced and two fumble recoveries. Aside from Harmon, WR Brandon Johnson left in the first half vs Carolina with a foot injury. Both teams open the season on the road Sept. 7, with the Steelers facing the Jets, and Panthers playing the Jaguars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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