The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a rough spot currently after losing a big game to the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. Had Pittsburgh been able to win that game, the Steelers would have been on top of the AFC North heading into Week 5. Instead, the team sits in third place. That makes this next game against the Indianapolis Colts extremely important. Both teams enter the contest with a record of 2-2, and there is a pretty good chance that the two sides could be in the mix for a Wild Card spot when the regular season comes to an end. This head-to-head matchup could be important in punching a ticket to the postseason.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy takes the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 at Huntington Bank Field.
Aside from the inconsistent play from both sides of the ball that has been seen from the Steelers, there are other things to worry about. The offensive line continues to be a problem, and the defensive side of the ball is pretty banged up as of right now. Starting cornerback Jamel Dean went down in Week 4 with an ankle sprain, while Derrick Harmon also went down against the Browns with a foot injury.
Both players are starters, so it is hard for fans to see either one go down, and they are each expected to miss extended time. There is a thought that Harmon could end up on Injured Reserve which would mean he would have to miss at least the next four games of the season. Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and he discussed the big injuries and explained why missing the defensive tackle could be a much bigger deal when he was asked if he was worried about the blows to Dean and Harmon.
"Oh, yeah, absolutely," Kaboly said. "You know the stats from last year, when he's not playing, they struggle stopping the run. I mean there's something to it I guess, I don't know if I 100 percent believe he is the only reason why. But then you got the big guy coming to town next week. I'm not too worried about the cornerbacks next week, I'm worried about stopping Jonathan Taylor. He is the guy that could open the game for the Colts."
Some fans might think that the cornerback position would be more of a concern at the moment since Dean is expected to miss time and Joey Porter Jr. was just traded to the Dallas Cowboys, but the current worry is stopping Jonathan Taylor of the Colts. He is one of the best backs in the league, and Harmon is a critical part of stopping the run for Pittsburgh.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Derrick Harmon gets the game-sealing sack on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in 2026.
Harmon missed some time during his rookie season in 2025 as he only played in 12 games, but the stats back up the idea that the defense is better against the run with him on the field. It is the reason the franchise drafted him in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Steelers had struggled against the ground game, and he was supposed to be a part of the solution.
Steelers Won't Have An Easy Time Against The Colts
The Colts are just 2-2, but they have looked impressive at certain points in the season. They took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in Week 2, and they are now riding a two-game winning streak after beating the Houston Texans and the Washington Commanders. Through four games in 2026, Taylor has recorded 353 rushing yards to go along with six touchdowns, and that type of production is coming into Pittsburgh in Week 5. The Steelers played pretty well against Taylor in 2025 as he carried the ball 14 times for just 45 yards, but Pittsburgh also had the lead for most of the game which forced the Colts to pass the ball more.
Do you think Harmon's injury is the biggest concern right now? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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