The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has been one of the NFL's worst through two games, and injuries have played a huge part in their struggles. Players at every level of the defense have been sidelined with various ailments, including starters Joey Porter Jr., DeShon Elliott, and Alex Highsmith.
The defense didn't look great even with them in he lineup, but turning things around without them seems nearly impossible. T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward look like older versions of themselves, and Jalen Ramsey has made plays but also given up his fair share to opposing passing games.
If there is any glimmer of hope, it can be found in the Steelers' most recent practice. 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon practiced for the first time since injuring his knee, albeit in a limited fashion. His return may not be in Week 3 against the New England Patriots, but his pending return to action is a huge boost for a defense trying to put the pieces back together.
Derrick Harmon may be Pittsburgh Steelers saving grace for struggling defense
Whenever it is that Harmon returns, more pressure will be put on him than anyone was expecting in his rookie season. The hope was that Heyward and Keeanu Benton would carry the load for the defensive line, giving the Oregon product plenty of one-on-one opportunities as he acclimates to the NFL.
After how the defense has performed to start the season, however, he may be counted on to be a real difference maker in both pass and rush defense.
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Harmon was one of my favorite prospects from this year's draft class, so I have some level of confidence that he could make a real impact upon his return. Still, he is not a finished product as a pass rusher, especially when it comes to finishing plays in the backfield. His run defense is also up-and-down, but his experience as a nose tackle from his Michigan State days should come in handy.
He has all of the traits to be a do-it-all interior defender one day, but how soon that comes to fruition is impossible to say. It could be right from the start, or it may take him months or even years to fully settle in as a dominant force.
For the Steelers' 2025 hopes, they need it to be sooner rather than later. It's unfair to put so much on a 22-year-old yet to make his professional debut, but such is life in the NFL. If not him, there may be nobody else that Pittsburgh can turn to for a defensive turnaround.