Najee Harris to Play in Steelers Preseason Finale

PITTSBURGH — Running back Najee Harris will see his first preseason action of 2022 on Sunday when the Steelers host the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Friday.

“Absolutely,” he said. “We’re going to be inclusive. All healthy guys are scheduled to play.”

Tomlin declined to give a specific amount of playing time for Harris or any other player that will dress in the game.

“I’ve got some plans, but I’m light on my feet,” Tomlin said. “There are certain things that we want to see and we’re not moving until we do.”

Harris was injured for the Steelers’ first preseason game and was held out of the second game as precaution, even though he had been previously cleared to practice.

He said last week that he was looking forward to getting some carries in before the start of the regular season.

The Steelers rotated three running backs with the first team while Harris was out, and Benny Snell Jr., Anthony McFarland Jr. and Jaylen Warren will continue to battle to be Harris’ backup.

“They’re good at what they do,” Harris said last week. “Jaylen, he turned a lot of heads at camp. He surprised a lot of people. … Anthony has looked really good this whole camp. … He could be that guy, for sure.”

McFarland leads the Steelers with 57 yards on nine carries (6.3 yards per carry) through two preseason games. Warren has rushed for 37 yards on nine carries. Snell lost two yards on three carries.

With the Steelers still looking to evaluate the trio of backs behind Harris, it’s unlikely that he will get a big workload on Sunday.

The rest of the offensive starters will more than likely play most of the first half in the team’s most significant dress rehearsal of the preseason. Both the offense and defense have been game-planning against scout teams in practice all this week.