Week 1 of the NFL season is fast approaching, and teams' primary goal is to just get there as healthy as possible with the preseason officially over. As rosters are cut, players are traded, and practice squads are built, injuries will be one of the biggest factors for how initial 53-man rosters are configured. The Pittsburgh Steelers are no different, and one position group just had its second injury concern pop up.
With rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon already dealing with a sprained MCL, another interior defender's status for Week 1 is suddenly in doubt.
Keeanu Benton is reportedly dealing with an upper-body injury, according to Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports. His availability for the Steelers' opening game against the New York Jets is unknown, but it puts a huge amount of pressure on the remaining healthy players in that room.
Pittsburgh Steelers need Keeanu Benton to be ready to start the season
With the Steelers down two out of three projected starters along the defensive line with the Benton news, it could be a difficult start to the season for the run defense in particular. Even though there is plenty of evidence to suggest he is a poor fit for it, Benton has been the primary nose tackle over the past two seasons.
With Harmon also out, 36-year-old Cam Heyward will once again be the anchor of the Steelers' run defense. Surprise rookie standout Yahya Black can hopefully help take some pressure off of Heyward, especially if he is used as a true nose with Benton potentially out.
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Even though the hope is for both Benton and Harmon to be back within the first few weeks of the season, Pittsburgh can't afford to drop any of their early games where they will be favored. The schedule starts off light, but the difficulty ramps up as the season progresses.
Dropping a game to the rebuilding Jets or Patriots would be a tough pill to swallow, and both teams have the running back talent to give a depleted Steelers' front major issues.
The combination of Heyward and Black may be able to hold the run defense together for a few weeks, but the pass rush will suffer for it. Black flashed a bull rush in the final preseason game against the Panthers, but odds are that he can't push the pocket like that against established starters this early in his career.
With any luck, Benton will be able to suit up in Week 1 or Week 2, with Harmon joining him shortly thereafter. If not, it could be an ugly first few games for the Steelers' interior.