Steelers Now
UNITY TWP., Pa. — On one hand, it’s hard not to notice what Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon has done through the first four practices of his rookie training camp.
Harmon has looked quick, physical and strong. He’s made plays in the backfield, pressured the quarterback, dominated offensive linemen with his physicality, and generally been the best Steelers defensive lineman on the field, outside of Cam Heyward.
On the other hand, it’s been four practices — and none of them in pads.
“The big man game is played in pads, and I’m looking forward to seeing him and others under those circumstances,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “Not to discount what he’s done, but that’s such a major component of his job description.”
But still, everyone I’ve talked to in Latrobe has gushed about the play of No. 99 so far. The so far is key. It’s a long way to go, but optimism is rising that the Steelers’ first-round pick could have a very strong rookie season.
His running mate hasn’t been shabby, either. Fifth-rounder Yahya Black sparked some on Saturday with some physicality, knocking back an offensive lineman with a big swat. On Sunday, he used that swat to batter two Mason Rudolph passes. Black is not an elite pass-rusher, but with his huge frame, that’s an effective way for him to improve his usefulness in this area of the game.
“It’s something that we really value culturally,” Tomlin said. “I think Cam probably led all interior d-linemen in the league last year. [Keeanu} Benton was also very high. We work at it. He has an aptitude for it, and hopefully it continues and even more so.”
Left tackle Broderick Jones has been dealing with a lower-body soft-tissue injury, and it significantly limited him in practice on Sunday. Trainers put an extensive wrap around the right side of his hip/groin area after individual drills on Sunday, causing him to miss the first rep of seven shots.
Jones returned for the rest of the first-team reps in seven shots, but did not participate in any of the rest of practice. Tomlin said after practice that he can be characterized as day to day.
Calvin Anderson replaced Jones for that first rep of seven shots, as he had during the 2024 seasons. With Anderson returning on a two-year contract, it seemed likely that the veteran was in line to be the team’s swing backup tackle — or at least the backup at left tackle, where 710 of his career 937 snaps have come.
But after that first period, it was fourth-year tackle Dylan Cook that filled in for Jones with the first team the rest of the way. Cook joined the Steelers in 2023, having spent his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A future contract signee in January, he surprisingly made the team that August and spent all of 2023 on the active roster, though he was dressed for just one game, and...
