- Steelers running back Najee Harris was declared out with an abdominal injury. He went to the locker room just prior to halftime and was later ruled out for the game.
- Harris had 10 rushes for 35 yards and a score before exiting. He entered Monday with 550 rushing yards and five total touchdowns on the season
Najee Harris, a second-year running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, left Monday night’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts due to an abdominal injury, but head coach Mike Tomlin had no other information other than that his player was being assessed.
Just before halftime, Harris walked to the locker room, and shortly after the break, it was announced that he would not return to the game.
Harris had been in and out of the medical tent earlier in the game, but had accumulated 35 yards on 10 carries before being ruled out. This included a 6-yard rush in the second quarter that led to the opening touchdown of the evening for Pittsburgh.
After the game, Tomlin stated of Harris’ injury, “He’s being assessed, so I don’t know the depth of it.” “We will likely meet again tomorrow, and I will have additional information for you then.”
The Steelers had already ruled out No. 2 RB Jaylen Warren for Monday’s game due to a hamstring injury, so Pittsburgh was playing without its top two running backs after Harris’ absence.
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Benny Snell, who had previously performed virtually entirely in special teams situations, and Anthony McFarland Jr., who was making his first appearance of the season after being called up as a game-day promotion in anticipation of Warren’s absence, were deployed in Harris’ absence. Snell rushed 12 times for 62 yards and a touchdown, while McFarland ran six times for 30 yards.
“I simply appreciate the efforts of both men, man. Sometimes you are promoted on the battlefield “Tomlin stated. “Even though he was still on the punt team, Benny Snell became an integral element of our offensive strategy. And (McFarland) is a man who is always working and waiting for his chance… I simply believed he was an asset to our team.”
