The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Monday that defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has been placed on injured reserve. Harmon, a second‑year player and first‑round pick in 2025, suffered a foot injury during the first half of the Steelers’ 27‑24 loss to Cleveland on Sunday. Under league rules he must miss at least four weeks, a setback for a defense that has struggled to stop big runs early this season.
Impact on the defensive line
Steeler defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said, “It’s hard to replace somebody of that magnitude in terms of Harmon’s ascension as a player in his second year, but we have guys that are ready to go.” Graham expects veteran Sebastian Joseph‑Day to see increased snaps, and rookie defensive tackle Gabe Rubio, a sixth‑round pick from Notre Dame, could also see more playing time when the Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.
New addition to the secondary
In a separate move, Pittsburgh signed veteran cornerback Sean Murphy‑Bunting after he was released from Tampa Bay’s practice squad. Murphy‑Bunting, who last appeared in a regular‑season game in 2024 with Arizona, brings experience to a secondary that recently lost cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas in a trade.
Both moves reflect the Steelers’ effort to address depth concerns on both sides of the ball as the season heads into its second month.
Looking ahead
The Steelers will travel to Indianapolis next Sunday for a matchup against the Colts, who sit at 2‑2. The added depth on the defensive line and secondary will be crucial as Pittsburgh aims to tighten up its run defense and improve overall consistency.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
