Najee Harris News

Harris topped 20 rushing attempts for the third time in his last four games, and he topped 80 rushing yards in six of Pittsburgh's final nine games to close the season. His effort Sunday was highlighted by a run of 11 yards and a trip to the end zone from four yards away. He narrowly missed a bigger performance, as he was denied at the goal line and was stripped of the ball early in the first quarter. Nevertheless, Harris has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, and he also tallied 10 total touchdowns in both campaigns. He'll head into 2023 as the Steelers' lead back once again.

Harris finally reached the century mark in rushing yards for the first time this season after coming close on several occasions. The physical back was able to gash one of the better run defenses for five yards per carry -- albeit sans star defensive tackle Calais Campbell (knee) -- after being limited to 33 yards on 12 carries when these same teams met in Week 14. The 24-year-old did most of his damage on the ground, but his primary highlight will be from the impressive catch he made at the corner of the end zone to seal the win late for Pittsburgh. Harris will remain a focal part of the offense as the Steelers attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Browns on Sunday.

Harris paced the Pittsburgh backfield, accounting for 16 of the 24 rushing attempts by skill-position players. However, he was largely stymied as a rusher and was held below 50 yards on the ground for the third time in the last five games. He still managed to salvage his performance with his most productive game of the season as a receiver, regularly serving as a dumpoff option for Kenny Pickett. Overall, Harris has at least 90 total yards in four of his last seven games, and he also has five touchdowns in that span.

Harris logged a 'DNP' on Wednesday, but his return to a full session Thursday puts the running back on track to be active and lead the Steelers' backfield in Week 16. In the team's 24-16 win over the Panthers this past Sunday, Harris logged 24 carries for 86 yards and a TD, while backup Jaylen Warren handled 12 touches for 49 yards and a touchdown. This weekend, the duo will be facing a defense that had trouble containing Rhamondre Stevenson (19/172/1) in the Raiders' Week 15 win over the Patriots.

It's a downgrade from Tuesday when Harris was listed as limited, though the Steelers didn't actually hold a practice just two days after their win over the Panthers. They face the Raiders on Saturday, with Jaylen Warren ready to pick up slack in the backfield if things go south with Harris' hip injury. He did miss practice last Wednesday with the same hip injury, then returned to full participation the next day and took 24 carries for 86 yards and a TD in the 24-16 win over Carolina (Warren added 12 touches for 49 yards and a TD on 34 percent of snaps).

The Steelers didn't actually practice but should get out on the field Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Raiders. Harris was listed with the hip injury last week and ended up taking 24 carries for 86 yards and a TD in a 24-16 win over Carolina, though he did cede 12 touches and 34 percent of offensive snaps to second-stringer Jaylen Warren.