Pittsburgh Steelers Derrick Harmon
How Long Will Derrick Harmon Be Out? Steelers DT’s Injury Timeline Emerges 1
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ most vital young players will be sitting out of the next several matches due to an unfortunate injury. The Steelers defensive lineman, Derrick Harmon, got hurt while playing in the team’s Thursday night match against the Cleveland Browns, which ended up as a 27-24 loss.
The initial reports were not quite promising because after the match, Harmon was seen wearing a walking boot. Fortunately, the recent update brings some relief for the Steelers, as the player’s injury doesn’t seem to be serious.
Derrick Harmon’s Injury Timeline Gives Steelers Some Relief
Pittsburgh Steelers Derrick HarmonPittsburgh Steelers Derrick Harmon
Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) looks on from the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
According to NFL Network’s insider Ian Rapoport, Harmon will miss a few weeks due to his foot injury, which happened during the match on October 2. The Steelers are currently contemplating putting him on the injured reserve list.
Derrick Harmon will miss a few weeks with the Steelers with a foot injury. They’re considering an IR stint for Harmon. #Steelers #NFL https://t.co/E9gwRGK8wT
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) October 4, 2026
That update gives the Steelers a clearer idea of what lies ahead. If Harmon lands on injured reserve, he would have to miss at least four games before becoming eligible to return. If the team believes he can recover sooner, keeping him off IR remains an option.
The timing is far from ideal. The Steelers have four games coming up against the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, and the Browns. The DT sustained the injury in the first half against the Browns and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The player had been slated for an MRI on Friday as per the ESPN report.
Harmon has already emerged as a key player in the Steelers defensive line unit this season in just his second NFL season. In four games in 2026, he has made 12 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble forced. His sack that caused a fumble of Joe Burrow was a vital factor in the Steelers’ victory over Cincinnati in Week 3.
It will be tough to fill in this void, especially since next on the cards for the Steelers is the Colts, who have a fearsome running game with Jonathan Taylor. The 23-year-old has added a lot to the Steelers’ interior pass rush unit.
Sebastian Joseph-Day and Yahya Black are among the players who will need to handle increased responsibility. Keeanu Benton could also return to a more prominent starting role after moving outside under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
The Steelers cannot afford to let the injury derail their defensive plans. Yet, Rapoport’s report provides one important takeaway: Harmon is expected to miss several weeks, not the remainder of the season. Pittsburgh now needs its remaining defensive linemen to hold the line until its young first-round pick can return.