Najee Harris seemingly frustrated and done with…
With the Pittsburgh Steelers roller-coaster of a season coming to an finish within the wild-card spherical on Saturday, star operating back Najee Harris, 26, could also be trying to disembark and discover himself a new journey.
In postgame interviews following the loss to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens — the Steelers’ fifth consecutive defeat to close out the season — Prime Video’s Taylor Rooks says Harris was “visibly frustrated but candid.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, left, talks with operating back Najee Harris, proper, as they go away the sphere following the loss within the wild-card spherical towards the Baltimore Ravens. AP
Najee Harris #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball towards the Baltimore Ravens during the primary quarter during the AFC wild-card sport. Getty Images
“[Harris] said that the guys have been saying things in the locker room that he didn’t necessarily want to say on camera, [but] that he felt like, throughout the losing streak, a lot of guys were letting what the media was saying infiltrate the locker room, and he wanted to see how they responded today,” Rooks reported after Saturday’s sport.
“He closed his media availability [answering the] question, ‘Have you put much thought into whether you want to stay with the Steelers?’ And he said ‘I have not put much thought in that at all.’”
Harris — who’s set to hit free company after Pittsburgh declined his fifth-year option forward of the 2024 season — was noticeably quiet within the Steelers’ 28-14 loss, amassing simply 58 yards from scrimmage.
No one on the offensive aspect of the ball had a notably spectacular day, however Harris’ meager 17 yards speeding represented a notably poor efficiency.
During the common season, the fourth-year back collected over 1,000 yards on the ground (for the fourth consecutive season) and one other 283 via the air, plus six whole touchdowns and zero turnovers. His 4.4 yards per contact was probably the most since his Pro Bowl rookie marketing campaign,
Russell Wilson talks to members of the media after Saturday’s loss. His contract with the Steelers was just for one 12 months, so he’s now an unrestricted free agent. AP
Harris doesn’t flash the identical explosiveness as some of the league’s different preeminent backs, however he’s a former first-round decide and, having by no means missed a begin during his Steelers tenure, uber-reliable at a notoriously unreliable place.
The Steelers could also be keen to let him stroll in free company given the regular emergence of Jaylen Warren, the third-year back out of Oklahoma State who steadily dug into Harris’ workload all through the 2024 marketing campaign.
A new second-string back, then, may very well be discovered within the open market or among the many expertise within the upcoming draft class.
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin had no solutions for the Ravens’ ever potent offense, surrendering 28 factors within the wild-card sport Saturday. AP
Major selections loom elsewhere up and down the Steelers depth chart — nowhere more so than beneath middle.
The Russell Wilson experiment labored till it didn’t, although the veteran, regardless of his just lately expired contract, “loves” town and “hopes” he’s nonetheless employed there subsequent 12 months.
Another confirmed and perhaps-available veteran in Aaron Rodgers may be interesting given Pittsburgh’s ageing defensive core and closing championship window — if you happen to can call it that. Or the Steel City can run it back with Justin Fields, hoping and praying that his early season successes weren’t a fluke.
At least head coach Mike Tomlin is in Pittsburgh to remain. Probably.
Stay up to date with the newest trending topics! Visit our web site every day for the freshest Sports information and content material, rigorously curated to keep you knowledgeable.
