Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Polamalu, James Harrison Injuries Leave Team Shorthanded Against Jets

By Kris Knox
Senior Writer

Over the past couple years, analysts have continued to questioned the increasingly aging Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense and its ability to perform at a championship level.

However, against the visiting New York Jets this Sunday, injuries are likely to present a much greater concern.

According to reports, the Steelers are likely to face the Jets without the services of two of the franchise’s most historic defenders.

Linebacker James Harrison, who also missed the Week 1 contest against the Broncos, still isn’t fully recovered from an arthroscopic procedure performed on his left knee on Aug. 15. He will, in all probability, miss his second consecutive game on Sunday.

It appears that the Steelers will also be without star safety Troy Polamalu, who has missed practice all week with a calf injury.

“James is the player of the year a few years ago, so you know he’s a great player,” Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau told the Post-Gazette. “But we’ve played without him and Troy, who won the (defensive) MVP award. We’ve played without him. Our guys know what’s required of them — they have to step up and fill the vacancy and push on.”

The problem for Pittsburgh is that the Steelers will face a Jets team that put up a league-high 48 points last week and appears to have overcome its preseason scoring struggles.

With both Harrison and Polamalu out, the Steelers may be forced to engage in an offensive shootout, if the team hopes to avoid an 0-2 start. Such a contest would go against the recent profile of both teams, but should make for one of Week 2′s most interesting affairs.

Follow Kris on Twitter: @Kris_Knox

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