Derrick Harmon Injury Update: Steelers Rookie Endures Knee Scare, Fans Race Through Every Emotion
Let’s not sugarcoat it—there are few things that rattle football fans, coaches, and teammates quite like seeing a promising rookie carted off the field, especially after a preseason that had everyone buzzing.
Last night, during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final preseason showdown against the Carolina Panthers, Derrick Harmon—yes, that Derrick Harmon, first-round pick and new hope for the defensive line—went down with a knee injury that had the whole stadium holding its breath.
Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon suffered a knee injury during the team's game against the Panthers and was carted off the field to the locker room. According to a tweet from the Steelers Update (@SteelersUpdate1), Harmon will not return to the game.
What happened to Derrick Harmon?
Derrick Harmon, just 22 years old and fresh off being drafted as the Steelers’ No. 21 pick in April, was trying to muscle around Panthers guard Brandon Walton when trouble struck.
Walton got the better angle, and as Harmon turned, he hit the turf awkwardly on his right side. For a brief moment, nothing else seemed to matter—the play, meanwhile, ended with an interception, but all eyes were on the big guy down on the field.
He stayed down for a few beats, then—thankfully—got up under his own power. If you were watching on TV (or squinting from the nosebleeds), you saw him head to the locker room, still looking a bit stunned.
There’s something jarring about watching a dude that size, full of energy last week chasing down QBs, now needing a cart to get to the bench. As someone whose football experience peaked in junior high, I can still remember that hush after a teammate got hurt—everyone forgetting the score, just hoping he’d be back.
Later, word trickled in from the Steelers’ Senior Director of Communications: “DT Derrick Harmon sustained a knee injury and is out for the rest of tonight's game.”
Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) shared a detailed analysis of Derrick Harmon's knee injury, posting a zoomed-in and slowed-down version of the incident to give fans a closer look at what happened.
The broadcast cut to Harmon on the cart, visibly emotional—nothing dramatic, no theatrics, just a young athlete coming to grips with one of football’s crueler realities.
But here’s some good news: after halftime, Harmon returned to the sideline—in street clothes, but walking on his own—to sit and watch with the team.
If you’re a Steelers fan, or just a sucker for those moments of resilience, that felt big. Cam Heyward and TJ Watt kept him company, and Harmon was reportedly seen smiling and laughing, not sulking.
For all the worry and hand-wringing happening online (“Is his season over?” “Why’d they draft a guy who’s already hurt?”), it was comforting to see some smiles.
Oregon Updates (@oregon__updates) reported that Derrick Harmon was carted off the field after sustaining a knee injury. The post expresses hope that the injury is not too serious.
When Will Derrick Harmon Return?
Let’s cut to the chase—nobody outside the team’s training staff knows exactly when Harmon will play again, but here’s what we’ve got.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was diplomatic when reporters asked for an update after the game: “Harmon has a knee sprain of some description. He is being evaluated.” That’s NFL-speak for “let’s hold off on panic until we get the MRI.”
A local reporter, Gerry Dulac from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, cited sources to say Harmon is “expected to be out at least a couple weeks.” Okay, breathe. That’s not season-ending, but it’s not a nothingburger either.
If you’re a medical nerd or just a chronic worrier, the Cleveland Clinic notes that knee sprains can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on severity.
Given Harmon’s size and how much torque he generates on every snap, the team is almost certainly going to play it safe. The Steelers open their regular season against the New York Jets on September 7—a little over two weeks away. If Harmon’s sprain is indeed mild, he could make it for Week 1, but expect the team to err on the side of caution.
Frankly? I wouldn’t be shocked if he sits out the opener, then returns once he’s 100%—especially given the way preseason injuries have derailed promising rookies in the past. Nobody wants to rush a guy who’s pegged as Cameron Heyward’s heir apparent (talk about big shoes to fill).
