Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have designated inside linebacker Malik Harrison to return from the injured reserve list, and open his 21-day practice window, the team announced on Monday.
Harrison suffered a knee injury during the season opener against the New York Jets. He played in just four snaps and made two tackles in the game. He was injured late in the contest and was quickly placed on the IR.
Harrison remains on the injured reserve, and can now practice for the next three weeks. At the end of the 21-day window, the Steelers must decide whether to reinstate him to the active roster or leave him on the IR for the remainder of the season.
Each NFL team can return a maximum of eight players from the injured reserve list over the course of a regular season. The Steelers had already used one, on cornerback Cory Trice Jr., who was added to the IR before the start of the regular season.
In order to return Harrison to the active roster, the Steelers will need to clear a roster space, though one could be made by moving strong safety Miles Killebrew to the injured reserve list. He suffered a significant knee injury on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns and is expected to miss playing time.
Before his injury, Harrison was serving as the Steelers’ No. 3 inside linebacker. That role has been filled by Cole Holcomb with Harrison out. Harrison also served as the team’s fifth outside linebacker, a role that DeMarvin Leal has since re-claimed.
The Steelers signed Harrison to a two-year, $10 million contract this offseason, poaching yet another linebacker from the Baltimore Ravens. The 27-year-old was a third-round pick of the Ravens out of Ohio State in 2020 and had spent all five of his previous NFL seasons in Baltimore.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Open Practice Window for Hard-Hitting Linebacker
