Derrick Harmon Reveals Initial Fears About Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Derrick Harmon, a first-round pick, confessed on Saturday that he initially feared the medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain that knocked him out of the last preseason game was “serious.”Harmon, drafted at number 21 in April, echoed the timeline of coach Mike Tomlin, who indicated that the defensive tackle is “week to week.” Depending on the degree of severity, MCL sprains can take several weeks to a month to heal. With the start of the season two weeks away, Harmon could avoid going on short-term injured reserve. Harmon, who added that he doesn’t need surgery, said the injury occurred when he was hit in the knee on a play before leaving the field. He said he tried to keep playing, but decided he needed to be checked. It was then that he went to the locker room in a cart with a towel over his head and a sad look on his face.“Definitely,” Harmon replied when asked if he was relieved by the diagnosis. “I thought it was serious, but it wasn’t that serious. But I still need rehabilitation and that’s my main focus right now, attacking rehabilitation and doing what I have to do to get back on the field and help the team.”
Derrick Harmon
Harmon returned to the band for the final quarter and laughed alongside teammates Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt on the bench.“I didn’t know what it was at the time, that’s why I was so down, in that mental state,” he said.
Derrick Harmon
Harmon acknowledged his frustration at the timing of the injury, which comes after a strong training camp where he was a starter on the defensive line.“Don’t really get too much in your head, man,” Harmon said about the message from his teammates. “Injuries are part of this game and at this level it’s part of what we do. So I just try to stay hopeful and stay mentally prepared and mentally focused.
Derrick Harmon
“Definitely frustrated, man,” he said. “Last preseason and really excited to get out there in the regular season and compete at a high level. And it sucks, but it’s part of the game we play. So I just have to attack this rehab.”
Derrick Harmon
