Steelers Receive Huge Injury Update On RB Najee Harris

Kenneth Teape

November 30, 2022

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing some of their best football of the 2022 season in the last few weeks following their bye. It looks as if they used their time off as well as they could as they are 2-1 in three games.

While it may be too little too late to make a run at the postseason, it is still an encouraging development that Pittsburgh is showing signs of life. The remainder of this season, even if it is a losing one, will be all about the progress that rookie Kenny Pickett makes as the starting quarterback.

A quarterback’s best friend is a good running game and Pittsburgh has started finding its stride in that regard since the bye week. After rushing for 100+ yards only three times in the first nine games of the season, the Steelers have surpassed that mark in all three games since the bye and four in a row overall.

After some serious early-season struggles, Najee Harris has looked like a different player in those last three games. He had the two highest rushing totals of the season in those games, rushing for 99 yards against the New Orleans Saints and 90 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was having another solid game against the Indianapolis Colts, rushing for 35 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown, but his night was cut short because of an injury. Harris was forced from the game because of an abdominal injury, but early reports are that the injury isn’t serious.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Harris has avoided a major injury, which is good news for the Steelers. However, his status for this week’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons is up in the air and he will be re-evaluated at practice as the week goes on.

#Steelers RB Najee Harris, who was ruled out of Monday night's game with an abdominal injury, did not suffer a major injury, sources say. His status this week is up in the air, and he'll be reevaluated as the practice week goes on. But no significant injury is good news.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 30, 2022

It is unfortunate timing for Harris as he was playing at a high level the last few games. Pittsburgh was already without his backup, Jaylen Warren, because of a hamstring injury, so if Harris cannot go, they will be dipping deeper into the depth chart.

Benny Snell Jr. handled 12 carries, producing 62 yards and a touchdown in relief of Harris against the Colts. He would likely be the lead back should Harris and Warren be unable to go. Anthony McFarland Jr. had six carries for 30 yards in a relief role and would remain part of the game plan as well.

The running backs haven’t been involved in the passing game nearly as much with Pickett under center compared to when Mitchell Trubisky was running the offense, but that is a role McFarland would presumably handle should he team up with Snell to man the backfield in Week 13.