Tomlin: No immediate long-term worry over Harris' abdominal injury taken on the South Side (Steelers)

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Najee Harris runs the ball against Indianapolis' Bobby Okereke during Monday's game.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Steelers fans can breathe easy on their starting running back.

Mike Tomlin did not fret much when I asked him about the abdominal injury that Najee Harris sustained in the first half, which subsequently kept him out of the second half of Monday night's 24-17 win over Indianapolis. As of Tuesday's press conference on the South Side, there is no long-term concern over the potential timeframe Harris could miss.

"Not as I sit here right now," Tomlin said, "but I don't have a lot of information as I sit here right now. I have no more information, right now, than I had last night when I addressed you guys."

Though that previous address came fewer than 13 hours prior to Tuesday's press conference, if there was something overly concerning regarding Harris' injury, Tomlin surely would have heard something about it by now. If nothing specific, it would have been at least a hint of concern.

"Just not enough time since we've landed, and getting that looked at," Tomlin said, "but as always, his participation in practice and the quality of that participation will be our guide in terms of developing a role for him and what that might look like."

Harris had rushed 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown in Monday's first half, as the Steelers carried a 16-3 lead into the break. Harris had resurged over the two games prior to Monday night, carrying the ball 40 times for 189 yards and two TDs combined against Cincinnati and New Orleans. He appeared on pace for another 20-carry performance on Monday, especially with Jaylen Warren inactive with a hamstring injury.

Tomlin said after Monday's game that Harris was still being evaluated.

"So, I don't know the extent of that," he said Monday night. "I'm sure we'll visit again (Tuesday), and I'll have more information for you there."

No news is good news, I suppose?

What were pieces of good news, and welcomed sights for the Steelers, were the emergences of Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland in the backfield once Harris was ruled out. 

Snell shouldered 12 carries for 62 yards -- 5.2 per carry -- and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 9:55 left in the game, which put the Steelers ahead 24-17 following Kenny Pickett's two-point pass to George Pickens. McFarland was right behind him in taking six carries for 30 yards, including the 3-yard scamper on 3rd-and-2 from the 9-yard line, which renewed a first down and set the table for Harris' 6-yard TD in the second quarter.

"I thought they stayed within their skillsets," Tomlin said on Tuesday. "Benny is a deliberate, one-cut, downhill runner. Ant-Mac is bursty and explosive and good in space, and I just thought they leaned on their strengths."

Up next for Pittsburgh is a Falcons defense which has struggled to defend the run this season. Atlanta has allowed 127.5 ground yards per game, which is 12th-most in the league. On Sunday, Washington running back Brian Robinson Jr. racked up 105 yards on 18 carries, as the Commanders beat the Falcons 19-13. 

There is opportunity for whoever it may be -- even if it's a combination of Harris, Warren, Snell, and/or McFarland -- to do some damage against the Falcons defense, as the 4-7 Steelers search for their third win in four games.

"They get after you in a myriad of ways," Tomlin said. "You've got to be prepared to deal with the schematics that (defensive coordinator Dean Pees) throws at you from a player standpoint."

MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE

• From an injury standpoint, Harris aside, Tomlin noted some players were being evaluated for "bumps and bruises" after Monday's game. Included in this were Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, Larry Ogunjobi, and Myles Jack.

But, nothing sounds significant in terms of either of these four missing game action.

"We don't anticipate any of these guys missing time, but these guys, along with others because we're working on a short week, may be limited -- particularly in the early portions of the week," Tomlin said. "I may do some things globally in terms of how we work on a Wednesday, for example, in an effort to be inclusive and bring the preparation to some of those guys who are a little bit less than ready to start the physical work that is preparation. 

"But, you know, that's nothing new. That's just life for us and life for anyone that's coming off of Monday night ball. We're not going to make a big deal out of that. We'll just simply do what's appropriate. Prepare our guys, and put them in position to step into our next stadium."

• When it comes to the Falcons, Tomlin singled out running back and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson as the main key for the Steelers' defense. Patterson is arguably the best kick returner in NFL history and set the NFL record with his ninth kick return for a touchdown, a 103-yard dash against the Bears, two weeks ago. 

Tomlin referred to the Steelers' kick return coverage as, appropriately, "not good" against the Colts. The Steelers allowed 225 yards on five kickoffs, including a 45-yard runback from Isaiah Rodgers and an 89-yard runback from Dallis Flowers to put the Colts at the Steelers' 19-yard line to begin the second half. Indianapolis scored on the fourth play of that drive on a 2-yard Jonathan Taylor touchdown run to cut the Steelers' lead to 16-10.

"We were missing Miles Boykin and Robert Spillane, but, boy, it's unacceptable," Tomlin said. "Particularly because of where we're going this week and matching up against Patterson, who is the best there is at that. We've got some work ahead of us in preparation on a short week to to shore up that component of play. And we can't chalk it up solely to players who are available or unavailable. We've got to look at all aspects of that unit in an effort to shore up that. We can't lose the field position component of play in the manner in which we did."

Patterson is also electrifying as a running back, and the Falcons utilize him in the backfield and wide as a receiver. He averages 5.2 yards per carry, good for 10th in the NFL among ball carriers with at least 80 rushing attempts.

"The field position component of play, his resume, what he has been, man, it needs no endorsement from me," Tomlin said. "It's just been nothing short of special. The things that he's able to do on offense, as well, I remember going to his Pro Day over a decade ago or a decade ago, and really just thinking what a special athlete he was at that time. 

"(The University of) Tennessee had used him a little bit on some toss sweeps and stuff, exclusively out of the backfield. He had been a return man and some wide receiver screens and things of that nature. But to watch those talents evolve over the last decade and be the dynamic playmaker he has been as a wide receiver, as a running back, as a starter, capable runner, as a dynamic return man, I've just got a lot of respect for him. We've got to minimize his impact on the game, and that's no easy task."

• Tomlin noted Pickett's "natural progression" of going throughout the season, in terms of Pickett having added input within the plays the offense runs. Pickett completed 20 of 28 passes for 174 yards against the Colts. He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded Steeler and the NFL's highest-graded QB in Week 12:

"I think it's a natural progression," Tomlin said. "I just think the more he gain experience, the more he's engaged in the process, the game readiness, the more there is a give-and-take in communication in terms of what's appropriate from a play-selection standpoint. Just natural business in terms of dealing with quarterbacks and their inclusion in the process."

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