Steelers' Keeanu Benton Targeted Again As Major Concern By Former LB James Harrison

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently sitting at 2-2 through four weeks of the 2026 NFL season, and are coming off yet another loss on Thursday Night Football. This loss stung a lot for fans, considering the team had a chance to take control of the division by moving to 3-1, and the fact that the loss was to the Cleveland Browns who are currently in first place in the AFC North. After that loss, some of Steeler Nation has started to question how they can turn it around moving forward. 

The loss to the Browns definitely highlighted some key areas that need improvement quickly. Of course, the Steelers' secondary looked outmatched at times during the game, and it came just one day after the team traded away cornerback Joey Porter Jr. after a lengthy contract dispute. Making matters worse following the secondary getting shredded by Deshaun Watson and company, the secondary also experienced a big injury when Jamel Dean went down with a lower body injury during the game. Dean was brought in this offseason to form a top flight duo with Porter Jr. on the perimeter of the defense, and now it looks like the Steelers will have neither available heading into Week 5. 

Hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, the Steelers' secondary catches a break with the Colts being one of the weaker wide receiver rooms in the league, mostly because of the injury to Alec Pierce who signed a massive contract extension this offseason. Despite the secondary getting an easier matchup this upcoming week, the defensive line has an incredibly tough assignment as they will be asked to slow down All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. The defensive front also experienced an injury to a key piece, as Derrick Harmon was placed on IR with a foot injury. 

Losing Harmon leading into a very physical matchup with the Colts is less than ideal, and former Steelers linebacker James Harrison mentioned major concerns about how they will fill in for him this week on the most recent episode of Deebo & Joe. Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton will be asked to shoulder a lot of the load, but Harrison specifically mentioned Benton as one of his primary concerns. 

"Us not having Harmon, that's going to hurt," said Harrison. "We got Taylor coming up in here. Right now, it will be Cam and Benton. I'm not worried about Cam, I'm worried about Benton. He'll like to spin up out of something, swim up out of something. In between the center to that guard, inside of the tackle, that is a tough area to be in when you have to take up two bodies. Just from what we have seen over the course of the last couple years and having to do that, it hasn't been a very productive consistency of being able to do that play in and play out."

Benton signed a massive contract this offseason, 4 years for $72 million, which surprised some as he hasn't yet had his breakout season since being drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. There have definitely been flashes that gave a lot of the fans and media hope that Benton would turn into the next great Steelers defensive lineman, and the team must have faith in him as well. 

There is no better time than this week against the Colts to show he deserves that contract, but he has his skeptics, that is for certain. 

Steelers' James Harrison Isn't The Only One With Huge Concerns

Harrison isn't the only former Steeler that believes more is needed from Benton, as former linebacker Vince Williams also put the young defensive lineman on blast. Williams stated there needs to be more of an impact on the game from Benton.

Williams also mentioned that Benton needs to prove he earned that contract, stating that his current level of play isn't showing that. This week's matchup against the Colts is a perfect opportunity to show that, and he will be one of the first to be called out most likely if Taylor ends up dominating on the ground in Pittsburgh. 

Let us know your thoughts on X (@matt_papiernik) about Harrison's comments on concern with Benton's play. 

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