Derrick Harmon, Steelers rookie, suffers knee injury: NFL concern

Derrick Harmon, Steelers’ first-round pick, suffers injury

Rookie Derrick Harmon, selected in the first round by the Steelers, had to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering a knee injury during the last preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Harmon’s injury occurred while attempting to get past guard Brandon Walton. Walton pushed him to the ground and Harmon fell awkwardly on his right side. The pressure forced Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer to throw under pressure, and cornerback James Pierre intercepted it in the end zone. Harmon was benched in the second quarter. He was appointed as a starter in the defensive line shortly after being selected at number 21 in the April draft.

Being a first-round pick, being an automatic starter as a rookie, yes. But I feel like pressure makes diamonds.

Derrick Harmon

Harmon, successor to veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, was recruited for his physique and versatility, and received praise throughout the preseason. On Sunday, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded his first preseason sack. The assistant general manager, Andy Weidl, commented last week about Harmon: “We think he’s had a very good camp. His explosiveness, his size, his hands, he’s always working with his hands. The ability to escape blocks in both phases, the energy with which he comes off the ball, the explosiveness, all those things are… reasons why we recruited him, along with the composition of who he is.”