3 Pittsburgh Steelers already ruled out for Week 2 game against Seattle Seahawks

Mike Moraitis

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3 Pittsburgh Steelers already ruled out for Week 2 game against Seattle Seahawks image

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without two key starters and an important backup for the Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee), safety DeShon Elliott (knee) and linebacker Malik Harrison (knee) are not expected to play on Sunday.

As for the good news, Tomlin added that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) and outside linebacker Nick Herbig (knee) could play. Porter Jr. got hurt in the game against the Jets, while Herbig has been sidelined since the preseason.

Harmon suffered a knee injury in the final preseason game. Tomlin noted that Harmon will ramp-up this week in preparation for a Week 3 return.

Elliott exited the Week 1 game early with his knee injury. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the veteran safety is going to miss a "couple of weeks" with what is labeled as an MCL sprain. The goal is a Week 4 return, Schultz adds.

In response to Elliott's injury, the Steelers signed safety Jabrill Peppers, who was cut loose by the New England Patriots after cutdown day in what was no doubt a shocking move.

"We have Jabrill Peppers in the building," Tomlin said. "We'll be signing Jabrill today and get him up to speed about what it is we'd ask him to do. Highly familiar with him, not only as his time as a Cleveland Brown, but scouted him heavily when he came out of Michigan. He's a football player first, positional player second."

"He displayed positional flexibility over the course of his career — at either safety position, at rundown, nickel. He's been a capable guy in the special teams space over the course of his career — covering kicks, returning punts. He's just a good, well-rounded football player. Glad to add and have him in the fold," Tomlin added.

The Steelers will release their first injury report of the week on Wednesday and will host the Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.