Steelers rookie Derrick Harmon sidelined weeks with MCL sprain

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon suffered an MCL sprain in the team’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday and is expected to miss multiple weeks, officials and league reporters said, dealing an early setback to the club’s plans for its rebuilt front seven. Harmon was carted off the field in the second quarter after appearing to twist his right knee and was ruled out for the game, then underwent imaging that led to the diagnosis.

The injury initially prompted fears it could be season ending after the 21st overall pick was visibly emotional as he was taken to the locker room. Coach Mike Tomlin described the ailment as a knee sprain and called Harmon’s status week to week, declining to speculate on whether the team would place him on injured reserve. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the sprain is an MCL injury and said Harmon is expected to be out roughly a month, making him an injured reserve candidate. By contrast, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette reported the team does not plan to place Harmon on IR and believes he could miss only one game, potentially returning as early as Week 2 or Week 3 of the regular season.