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Steelers Rookie Moved by Fans’ Passion Despite Preseason Loss

Fans during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)

PITTSBURGH (CafeX) — Final score read 17-14 for the Buccaneers, but for first-round rookie Derrick Harmon, it wasn’t the loss that lingered — it was the roar.

From the first snap to the final whistle, Steelers Nation brought the noise, treating an August afternoon like playoff weather. Harmon — just weeks into wearing black and gold — admitted afterward that only one thing stayed with him longer than the sting of defeat: the fans.

“you could feel them,” Harmon said quietly in the locker room, tone tinged with awe. “even in preseason, even when we were behind, they stayed loud. that energy… it hits different.”

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers)

Though Harmon’s stat line was still unwritten, his presence was felt. Cam Heyward, seeing the rookie’s emotion, offered a knowing nod: “that’s pittsburgh — they will love you when you earn it, even when you’re learning. derrick already knows what that means.”

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

For Derrick Harmon, the scoreboard will fade — but the sound of those cheers won’t. In Pittsburgh, even preseason is a stage, and sometimes, the noise of the stands becomes the real highlight.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side