Ready to attack rehab: As he was on a cart heading into the locker room near halftime in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, the look on No. 1 draft pick Derrick Harmon's face wasn't good.
He came off the field a little earlier in the game after getting hit in the knee, and the severity of it was something he didn't know.
"Yeah, I just got hit on the knee on a play before," said Harmon. "Played through it the next play. I felt it. Just wanted to get it checked out.
"I didn't know what it was at the time. That's why I was so in that mood, in that head space. So pretty much it."
There was good news, though.
Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Thursday night, and reiterated it on Saturday, that Harmon suffered a knee sprain and is week-to-week.
"I thought it was serious, but it wasn't that serious," said Harmon. "But still something I've got to be in the training room to get my rehab. That's my focus right now, to attack rehab and do what I have to do to get back on the field."
When Harmon came back to the field after the half, he sat on the sidelines talking with veterans Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt. The two shared some words of wisdom with him.
"Really just don't get too much in my head," said Harmon. "Injury is part of this game and at this level is part of what we do. So, they were trying to keep my hopes up and keep me mentally prepared and mentally focused.
"Once I got next to my teammates, they cheered me up. They told me get out of my head. That's what they really told me. So, that's why I was laughing like that. It just put it in good spirits, telling me you're going to be all right.
"Definitely frustrated. Last preseason game and really excited to get out there in the regular season and compete at a high level. It sucks, but it's part of the game we play, so just got to attack this rehab."
While getting back physically is the main focus, being a rookie Harmon knows he has to stay on top of the mental side as well, something he can't let slip.
"Stay in the playbook, staying up to game speed," said Harmon. "Knowing what I got to do even though I'm not going to probably be out there, but still be up to game speed and know what I've got to. Take it week-by-week and to the best of my ability attack this rehab."
Great to be back: One player Coach Mike Tomlin said was back on the field on Saturday was receiver Calvin Austin III.
Austin didn't play at all in the preseason, but was happy to get some work on Saturday.
"It felt great," said Austin. "It's always good to be in a competitive scenario in practice and actually get to compete against your teammates. So, it was good to be back."
While Austin has been working during the time he was out, he said one area that he needs to still get up to speed on is his football conditioning.
"Probably the only thing that I'm far back in, if I'm being realistic, is my conditioning," said Austin. "Besides that, everything else is pretty smoothly."
With the regular season opener against the New York Jets two weeks away, getting to the point he is now is perfect timing.
"The only way you can get better is by being out there," said Austin. "So, I'm just thankful and blessed to be healthy and be back out there."
The key factor for Austin throughout his injury was staying active, which has meant be present for everything, including meetings, film study, practice and more.
"Since this happened in camp, my process was the exact same as everybody else," said Austin. "I was in all the meetings, walkthroughs, everything. So, I really didn't miss a step mentally or anything.
"That's why I said the biggest thing was just getting that conditioning back. Even if you are conditioning, just running and stuff is always different than getting reactionary football condition."
He has also developed his relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While he might not have been on the field catching passes, the work was still being done and the relationship has grown.
"It hasn't been a challenge at all," said Austin. "We were in those meetings. When he communicates, he doesn't communicate with one person. He goes to all the receivers, tight ends, running backs in meetings. The only thing that I have to get up back on page with is running the routes and stuff. Besides that, we communicate, and everybody's been on the same page."
Never say never: Rookie Yahya Black did something in Thursday night's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers that he has never done before in football.
He had two sacks in a game, with back-to-back sacks in the third quarter, something he didn't do in high school or college.
"Never," said Black. "Never. I had five and a half in a career at Iowa."
After the sack, Black did a celebration where he rubbed his belly. The celebration has gone viral, and it's one he is proud of.
"It just felt right," said Black. "I mean, I've got a belly, so yeah, it works."
Black, who at 6-5, 336 pounds, is a mountain, has a knack for batting down passes, something his size helps with but there is more to it.
"It's a little bit of both," said Black. "It's skill development, how you work on it and see things go your way."
Black is already benefiting from the coaching of defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, someone who doesn't mind challenging young players to step up.
"He's got that personality where he's going to get on your back and really push you to be your best self," said Black. "So, you always want to show up for him, too."
See you in September: The release of veteran long-snapper Jake McQuaide implied the Steelers anticipate incumbent Christian Kuntz will be healthy and ready to play in the regular-season opener on Sept. 7 at the New York Jets.
Kuntz removed any doubt after practice today.
"Oh, we're playing," Kuntz insisted. "We got two weeks left, we'll be good, for sure, yeah, 100 percent. Snapped today, so we'll be good."
McQuaide replaced Kuntz in Thursday night's preseason finale at Carolina. Kuntz was injured on Aug. 16 against Tampa Bay.
First-year defensive lineman Logan Lee long-snapped in Kuntz' absence against the Buccaneers.
Kuntz has appeared in 68 consecutive regular-season games since joining the Steelers in 2021. He anticipates no restrictions associated with his injury by the time the Jets game rolls around.
Who does the punting against the Jets, and the holding for kicker Chris Boswell, has yet to be determined.
Cameron Johnston, who started last season as the punter but was lost for the season in the opener at Atlanta, and Corliss Waitman, who took over after Johnston was injured, remain in competition for those jobs.
But Kuntz is convinced the Steelers will be getting their kicks in the kicking game however the roster reduction to 53 shakes out.
"Both punters are top-tier punters in the league," Kuntz insisted. "Whoever it is is going to do a great job, and 'Boz' is "Boz.'"
-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta
Steelers make moves: In case you missed it, on Friday the Steelers made their first wave of roster moves as they work to get to the mandatory 53-man roster by Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m. The team released 11 players, including five on offense, five on defense, and one on special teams.
Among those released were:
Defense:
Linebacker: Kenny Willekes
Defensive Backs: Kam Alexander, Quindell Johnson, Kyler McMichael, Mikey Victor
Offense:
Offensive linemen: Doug Nester, Julian Pearl
Quarterback: Logan Woodside
Running Back: Evan Hull
Tight end: Kevin Foelsch
Special Teams:
Long snapper: Jake McQuaide
Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.
