Najee Harris Injury: RB Likely Headed for Limited Performance vs Patriots

Banged-up running back Najee Harris was upgraded to a full participant for Steelers' practice on Thursday as he works through an unspecified injury that Harris and Tomlin have been tight-lipped about.

Harris is trending towards playing in Week 2 but he will likely be limited against a stout Patriots' rushing defense, according to the Pro Football Docs, who grade him with an SIC score of 72 this week. 

Najee Harris Update

While he was ruled out with a left foot injury, although it remains unclear if he suffered a reaggravation of the Lisfranc sprain he has been dealing with since early in training camp. Harris suffered what the Docs believed to be a left high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of their win over the Bengals and didn't return. 

Even a mild high ankle sprain would bother Harris for several weeks and could keep him off the field through Week 3 or 4, according to the Docs. 

The best-case scenario is that Harris suffered an aggravation of the Lisfranc injury that kept him out of most of the preseason. 

The second-year back suffered a left Lisfranc injury on August 1 – which Mike Tomlin downplayed as Harris being stepped on – and said that the sprain was no longer an issue heading into the regular season. 

Even before the injury Harris was inefficient, totaling 12 touches for 25 yards and one touchdown. That production was good for 9.6 fantasy points in half-PPR, which slotted in at No. 26 in Week 1.

Below Harris was Miami backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, who scored 8.5 and 3.7 points, respectively, against the Patriots rushing defense and gained a total of 41 yards on 17 attempts.

The Steelers have a quick turnaround for Week 3, as they will face a likewise strong Browns' defense on Thursday night.