For the second season in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers will lose their first-round draft choice to injury to begin the season.
Omar Khan and Steelers brass were exhilarated to select Derrick Harmon 21st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. With high expectations, the Oregon product showed out at training camp and in his preseason snaps, earning his spot as the team’s starting defensive end on Pittsburgh’s unofficial depth chart.
Now, Harmon is set to miss around a month after being carted off the field
with an MCL sprain in the team’s final preseason outing.
Which players need to elevate their game with Harmon set to miss time?
Following the scary injury on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, Harmon reappeared on the Steelers bench, where he seemed in better spirits.
Despite the injury, the 6-foot-4 defender was seen with 14-year pro Cameron Heyward and five-time all-pro T.J. Watt, all of whom were smiling, reported by WPXI’s Jenna Harner.
With uncertainty surrounding Harmon’s exact return, the Steelers will need to fill the void of his absence for the foreseeable future. Here are three Steelers who could have significant impacts while the 22-year-old remains out.
Yahya Black
Another member of the 2025 draft class, Yahya Black, put on a show in Thursday night’s tilt. Pittsburgh’s fifth-round pick registered five tackles, two sacks, and forced a fumble in the 19-10 victory.
Before Pittsburgh, the 6-foot-five Minnesota native spent his collegiate years with the University of Iowa. The five-year Hawkeye impressed most in 2023, where he earned career highs in nearly every defensive statistic.
While Black prefers the nose tackle position, his impressive performance may push him to the defensive end slot as the black and gold labor Harmon’s injury.
Logan Lee
The 25-year-old defensive tackle might not have had as many splash plays as Black on Thursday; however, Logan Lee did register three tackles en route to the win.
Lee, too, is a former Hawkeye, spending four seasons with the University of Iowa before landing with Pittsburgh. The hopeful Pittsburgh defender was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and has yet to play any snaps in the regular season after a calf injury ended his freshman campaign.
Lee currently sits behind Harmon at the right defensive end position on Pittsburgh’s unofficial depth chart. While less than ideal, this may finally be Lee’s chance to prove his NFL worthiness.
DeMarvin Leal
After being drafted in 2022, DeMarvin Leal continues to battle for a roster spot. Like Lee, the former third-round selection had three tackles as the Steelers rounded out the preseason Thursday.
Leal had high expectations entering the NFL; however, as he enters year three, he has plenty to prove. The Texas A&M alumnus has been used several ways in the Steelers’ defense throughout his time in the league. Over his opening seasons with the black and gold, Leal totaled 33 total tackles, four pass defenses, and a sack.
While Leal is listed as an outside linebacker on the Steelers’ depth chart, he is familiar with the defensive line as he primarily spent his time there with the Aggies. With Harmon going down, could Leal return to his original position and significantly impact his NFL career?
