The Steelers finished last year as the No. 3 defense in Fantasy scoring. They thrived on turnovers, recovering a league-high 16 fumbles and finishing third in interceptions with 17. This is nothing new for Pittsburgh, so while the fumble recoveries may regress we still rank them as a top-three defense worth a pick in the final two rounds of your Fantasy draft. The team added Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay and drafted defensive lineman Derrick Harmon in Round 1. No one should be surprised if they are the No. 1 defense in Fantasy this year. Their early-season schedule (Jets, Seahawks, Patriots, Vikings, bye, Browns) is another plus.
Fantasy News
Steelers' Nick Herbig: Still nursing hamstring injury
Rotowire
Herbig (hamstring) remains sidelined at practice Monday, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.
Herbig was injured in the Steelers' second preseason game and is looking questionable for Pittsburgh's Week 1 opener against the Jets on Sept. 7. If Herbig is unable to gain clearance against New York, Alex Highsmith would be in for elevated snaps opposite T.J. Watt.
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Steelers' Keeanu Benton: Dealing with upper-body issue
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Benton is dealing with an upper-body injury, placing some doubt on his availability for Week 1, Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Benton appears to have picked up an upper-body injury during Thursday's 19-10 preseason win over the Panthers. He played nine defensive snaps in the contest, failing to record any stats. Rookie Derrick Harmon (knee) also suffered an injury in the game, so the Steelers could be without two interior defensive linemen in their regular-season opener Sept. 7 versus the Jets.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon: MCL sprain confirmed
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Harmon is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks with an MCL sprain, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Because Harmon picked up the injury during Pittsburgh's final preseason game at Carolina, there's optimism that he may have to miss only two or three regular-season games. As a result, it's not anticipated that he'll be placed on the Steelers' injured reserve list. Once available, he projects to play a significant role on Pittsburgh's defensive line alongside Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon: Expected to begin year on IR
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Harmon (knee) is believed to have sustained an MCL sprain during Thursday's preseason win over the Panthers and is expected to start the regular season on IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Harmon will only have to miss the first four games of the regular season if Pittsburgh places him on IR with a return designation on the final cutdown day for the 53-man roster. The rookie first-round pick was carted off the field during Thursday's preseason win. Once fully recovered, Harmon will resume pushing for starting reps at defensive end opposite veteran Cameron Heyward, looking to bolster a pass-rush unit led by T.J. Watt.
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Steelers' Darius Slay: Logs preseason reps
Rotowire
Slay (ankle) recorded one assisted tackle during the Steelers' 19-10 preseason win over the Panthers on Thursday.
Slay played only nine defensive snaps Thursday, the same total as fellow starting cornerbacks Joey Porter (hand) and Jalen Ramsey, but that's enough to confirm that he's fully recovered from the ankle issue that forced him to depart practice early in mid-August. The 34-year-old inked a one-year contract with Pittsburgh earlier this offseason and is set to kick off the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7 versus Justin Fields and the Jets as a starting outside cornerback across from Porter.
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Steelers' Joey Porter: Plays nine snaps Thursday
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Porter (hand) played nine defensive snaps during Thursday's preseason win over the Panthers.
Porter had and the first-team defense had their reps limited Thursday, so he and fellow starting cornerbacks Darius Slay (ankle) and Jalen Ramsey were all limited to just nine snaps. That activity confirms, though, that Porter has fully recovered from the hand injury that hampered him earlier in training camp. Pittsburgh's secondary unit looks like one of the best in the league and is slated to enter Week 1 against the Jets on Sunday, Sept. 7 in good health.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon: Dealing with sprained knee
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Harmon suffered a sprained knee in Thursday's 19-10 preseason win over the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Harmon was forced to exit the game in the first half with a knee injury, which head coach Mike Tomlin clarified to be a sprain after the contest. The defensive lineman is still being evaluated according to Tomlin, but early indications appear to be relatively positive. Harmon was able to return to the bench on his own in the second half, sitting next to veterans Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt, looking no worse for the wear, per Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon: Carted off field
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Harmon (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's preseason contest against the Panthers, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Harmon suffered a knee injury in the first half against Carolina, and he required a cart to get off the field. The 2025 first-round pick recorded one tackle before his departure, and the severity of his injury is currently unknown.
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Devin Harper: Let go by Pittsburgh
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The Steelers waived Harper (undisclosed) from injured reserve with a settlement Wednesday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Harper's time in Pittsburgh has come to an end after having signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January. The 27-year-old will now shift his focus to getting healthy and look to find a new opportunity with another team.
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Steelers' Devin Harper: Now going to IR
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Harper (undisclosed) reverted to Pittsburgh's injured reserve list Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Since Harper wasn't claimed by another team after the Steelers waived him with an injury designation Monday, he'll now go to their injured reserve list. He'll have to stay there until the end of the 2025 season unless he works out an injury settlement with Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Back at practice
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Highsmith (groin) returned to practice Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith was injured in practice a little over two weeks ago but was back on the field Tuesday, giving him plenty of time to get ready for the start of the regular season Sept. 7 against the Jets. Highsmith appeared in just 11 regular-season games last year, finishing with 45 tackles (28 solo), including 6.0 sacks, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
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Devin Harper: Let go with injury designation
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The Steelers waived Harper (undisclosed) with an injury designation Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
The nature and severity of Harper's injury isn't clear, but he would revert to the Steelers' injured reserve if he went unclaimed off waivers, which would force him to miss the entire 2025 season unless an injury settlement is reached. Harper last saw NFL regular-season action in 2023 and appeared in nine games between the Bengals (six) and Cowboys (three), posting five tackles (four solo) while mostly serving on special teams.
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Steelers' Nick Herbig: Exits with hamstring injury
Rotowire
Herbig exited Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers with a hamstring injury and will not return, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Herbig missed four regular-season games with a hamstring injury last season. A fourth-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Herbig recorded 22 tackles (13 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 2024. Herbig and Alex Highsmith (groin) are expected to be keys in the Steelers' pass rush opposite T.J. Watt this season.
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Falcons' C.J. Henderson: Latches on with Atlanta
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The Falcons signed Henderson to a contract Thursday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Henderson worked out with the Falcons in late July, and the 2020 first-rounder will now have an opportunity to compete for a depth spot on Atlanta's 53-man roster for the upcoming season. Henderson spent time on the Steelers' active roster during the 2024 season but did not play in a regular-season game before being placed on injured reserve in mid-November due to a neck injury. Henderson last saw regular-season action in 2023 with the Panthers, when he logged 39 tackles (31 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses across 12 games (seven starts).
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Steelers' Cameron McCutcheon: Gets put on IR
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McCutcheon (undisclosed) reverted to Pittsburgh's injured reserve list Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
McCutcheon was not claimed during the last waiver period, and he'll now go to injured reserve with an unspecified injury. He'll have to stay there for the entire 2025 season unless he can work out an injury settlement with the Steelers.
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Kalon Barnes: Works out with Chicago
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Barnes (undisclosed) worked out with the Bears on Monday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Barnes was cut after reaching an injury settlement with the Steelers in August of 2024, but he's now healthy ahead of the 2025 campaign. The cornerback appeared in two games with the Vikings in 2022, failing to record any stats while playing nine snaps on special teams. He hasn't appeared in any contests since then.
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Cameron McCutcheon: Waived with injury designation
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The Steelers waived/injured McCutcheon (undisclosed) on Monday.
It's not currently clear what type of issue McCutcheon is dealing with, but if he clears waivers he'll revert to injured reserve. The Western Carolina product originally came into the league with the Rams in 2023 and has yet to play in an NFL game.
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Steelers' Cameron Heyward: Could sit out in regular season
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Heyward signaled Monday that he wouldn't rule out missing regular-season games as he tries to negotiate a restructured contract, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Heyward has not been fully participating in training camp while in the midst of a dispute with the Steelers about his current contract. Until there is some form of resolution on Heyward's desire for a raise following his strong 8.0-sack campaign in 2024, his availability for the coming season will be in some degree of doubt.
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Steelers' Darius Slay: Suffers injury at practice
Rotowire
Slay (ankle) exited Monday's practice early, Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reports.
Slay suffered a rolled ankle on the first play of practice while in coverage of wide receiver DK Metcalf. The cornerback remained on the sidelines but did not return to practice, which suggests it may be a minor issue. Slay's status at practice will be worth monitoring in the coming days as the Steelers gear up to face the Buccaneers on Saturday.
Heyward hasn't been fully participating in training camp practices as he seeks a restructured contract from the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Heyward is "holding in" similarly to a few other players around the league who are at their team facilities but not fully participating in practice due to contract disputes. The veteran pass rusher is looking for a raise from his current $14.75 million salary on the heels of a strong 2024 regular season in which he posted 8.0 sacks and 11 passes defensed. There hasn't been much progress on a reworked deal, per Schefter, as the Steelers have prioritized other contracts and moves in what has been a busy offseason.
