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Steelers’ Derrick Harmon Delivers Strong Message on Potential Week 3 Debut

Steelers first-rounder Derrick Harmon balancing joy with grief -  Sportsnet.ca

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into Week 3 against the New England Patriots with a defense battered by injuries, and all eyes are on rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon.

Harmon, the Steelers’ first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, has yet to make his debut after suffering a knee sprain during the third preseason game on August 21. He was carted off the field that night, sparking fears of a long-term setback. Early reports, however, suggested he might only miss minimal time.

Head coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t ready to promise a return this Sunday. Speaking earlier in the week, Tomlin described Harmon as “questionable at best” for Week 3.

But Harmon himself struck a more confident tone when speaking with reporters on Friday:

“I’m ready to go when my number is called.”

That optimism has fans hopeful, but the team remains cautious given the injury history and the need to keep their prized rookie healthy long-term.

The timing of Harmon’s possible return couldn’t be more critical. On Wednesday, the Steelers placed veteran Isaiahh Loudermilk on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain, ruling him out for at least four games. Loudermilk had been filling in for Harmon during the first two weeks of the season.

With Loudermilk sidelined, the team elevated DeMarvin Leal, a third-round pick who has struggled to meet expectations, from the practice squad to the active roster. Meanwhile, veteran Dean Lowry is also on injured reserve, leaving Pittsburgh dangerously thin up front.

It’s clear the Steelers’ defensive line could use a lift. Through two weeks, the absence of Harmon’s size, power, and versatility has been noticeable. His return would not only stabilize the unit but also inject much-needed energy into a defense already stretched thin by injuries.

Whether Harmon makes his NFL debut this Sunday or has to wait a little longer, one thing is clear: the Steelers drafted him to be a difference-maker, and his time is coming soon.

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Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.