INDIANAPOLIS — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris starting Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts by poking the bear, coming of out of the tunnel before the game with two middle fingers held high toward the blue-clad home faithful.
Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin got the last laugh, though. After the Colts beat the Steelers, 27-24 on Sunday, Franklin took to X to call out Harris.
“Kid is soft,” Franklin wrote. “84 run harder.”
Kid is soft. 84 run harder https://t.co/lwsytZkzxS
— Zaire Franklin (@ZiggySmalls_) September 29, 2024
By 84, Franklin was referring to Cordarrelle Patterson. The 33-year-old running back ran six times for 43 yards, well out-pacing Harris, who had 19 yards on 13 carries. Patterson was injured on his sixth carry, leaving the game with an ankle injury. After walking to the sideline, he was carted off the field and quickly ruled out.
The Steelers running game struggled throughout, with quarterback Justin Fields ending up as the leading rusher with 10 carries for 55 yards.
“They packed the box,” Harris said. “They had a free hitter every time and we didn’t put hands on them. Guys that needed to. That’ll happen. …
“We’ve gotta execute on our behalf. They’re gonna come out there in certain defenses to stop the run. We know that. We just gotta execute it.”
The Steelers executed better in the second half, but by then, they were trailing by multiple scores, and needed to throw the ball.
Franklin, a stalwart in the middle of what was a banged-up Indianapolis defense, finished with nine tackles, second on the Colts.