There’s no position on a football team where depth is more important than the defensive line.
Due to the extensive demands placed on defensive linemen, players tend to wear out quickly and injuries can be more common. Well-run football teams make sure that they have at least five to six guys on the defensive line that they’re confident in and ready to go when called upon. Those depth players need to take advantage of opportunities when they get them.
That’s exactly what a pair of former Hawkeyes are hoping to do.
During Thursday night’s preseason finale for the Pittsburgh Steelers, first-round pick Derrick Harmon went down with an injury. The former Oregon Duck was able to walk off the field, but had to be carted to the locker room.
Luckily for Harmon and the Steelers, it seems he avoided a serious injury. Harmon was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, which will keep him out for around a month.
In his absence, the Steelers will ask two former Hawkeyes to step up.
Logan Lee was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. His former teammate, Yahya Black, joined him in the Steel City when he was taken in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Steelers. And those two guys are among a group of defensive linemen who will be tasked with picking up the slack in Harmon’s stead.
Black took advantage of his opportunity right away in Thursday’s game, wreaking havoc on the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 343-pound lineman finished with five tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in Pittsburgh’s preseason finale, catching the attention of fans and analysts everywhere, including Pro Football Focus.
Black was the highest-graded Steeler against the Panthers according to PFF, capping off a strong camp and preseason for the former Hawkeye.
Lee finished Thursday’s game with three tackles. Lee’s versatility (he filled in as the emergency long snapper last week) should snag him a roster spot and a chance to contribute on the defensive line. While he may not play a ton of snaps, Lee is one more injury away from being called into a much larger role.
In the NFL, it’s all about taking advantage of opportunities when you get them. Black and Lee have a big opportunity now to carve out a role on a team that’s trying to make a run in the playoffs. Iowa fans will keep a close eye on the two of them as they continue their football journeys in the black and gold.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Key Steelers injury could open door for Iowa football pair
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
