There are plenty of unknowns with respect to the passing game in the Steelers’ passing offense, but their running game is set to once again be predicated on 2021 first-rounder Najee Harris. 
The Alabama product has been limited throughout the summer, however, due to a foot injury. Providing more context on the matter, Harris revealed that the ailment (suffered during the team’s first full practice at the start of training camp) was a Lisfranc sprain.
“I never did just get my foot stepped on,” he said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “That is why I was out the majority of camp.” Harris added that the prognosis called for a four-to-six week recovery timetable, leaving him with a very light preseason workload. His only August action came yesterday, where he played with the offensive starters and totalled seven touches and 21 scrimmage yards.
Not surprisingly, the 24-year-old admitted that he is “just now getting over it.” More importantly, his ability to play yesterday points to him being fully recovered in time for the regular season. That will be a welcomed sight for the Steelers, of course; Harris ran for exactly 1,300 yards as a rookie, adding 467 yards in the passing game and scoring 10 total touchdowns. He was named a Pro Bowler as a result, and figures to be the focal point of the team’s offense again in 2022.
After he led the NFL in touches, though, Pittsburgh was reported to be in the market for a more proven depth option. Not long after, they signed former Titan Jeremy McNichols to compete with Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland Jr. Harris still faces one of the heaviest workloads in the league, however, so his continued recovery in the build-up to Week 1 will be crucial to Pittsburgh’s success transitioning to an offense featuring many new faces.
update: Najee is a beast
The rookie kid from Oklahoma State has looked good this preseason as well, most likely took Benny Snells job as RB2.
Maybe not yet, as Tomlin has his favorites and Benny Snell is one of them… but Jaylen Warren has almost assuredly pushed Anthony McFarland out the door, and Warren might indeed pass Snell for touches if Warren shows he can pass block and catch the ball.
Pittsburgh is likely going to need more than Najee Harris this year – as their offensive line is a complete unknown.
Oh sir it’s not unknown, it’s bad, really bad.