Aug 14, 2017 4 min read

LATROBE – The Steelers have a plan for how they want to use 39-year-old outside linebacker James Harrison.

That plan includes not seeing as much of the team’s all-time sacks leader on the field as in the past two seasons.

If things work out the way the Steelers hope, with the addition of first-round draft pick T.J. Watt, there is a chance Harrison might not play much if at all in 2017.

“The plan is to get those young guys going,” said outside linebackers coach Joey Porter Monday. “They are our future with Bud (Dupree), T.J. and (Anthony) Chickillo. At the same time, if they’re not playing up to the standard, then we bring in the old man. If we have to pull him out to close out a game, that’s fine. But that’s not the intention. The intention is to let the young guys get the reps.”

That has been the case throughout the offseason and training camp as Harrison has suited up only once – at Family Fest at Heinz Field Aug. 6. Outside of that brief appearance in pads, Harrison has worked on the sidelines as Watt, Dupree, Chickillo and Arthur Moats have received the most work at outside linebacker.

It is a similar plan to the one the Steelers had last year, when they wanted to start the season with Dupree and 2013 first-round draft pick Jarvis Jones as their starting outside linebackers. Harrison initially split time with Jones.

But Dupree suffered a sports hernia early in training camp and did not return until November. Jones, meanwhile, was largely ineffective, and by midseason head coach Mike Tomlin had made the decision to bench him in favor of Harrison.

Harrison finished the season with 53 tackles, five sacks and an interception. Jones left the Steelers as a free agent at season’s end.

Pittsburgh selected Watt with the 30th pick in the draft this psring and the early returns have been good.

Because of injuries and their desire not to play Harrison in last week’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, the Steelers had only three healthy outside linebackers dressed for the game. Watt played nearly every snap, including on special teams.

He recorded sacks on New York’s first two passing attempts and finished the game with five tackles, two sacks, three pressures and one pass defensed.

So far, so good for the plan.

“I think T.J. is what we expected,” Porter said of Watt, who was held out of some team drills Monday to rest his body. “He’s a talented player and he showed that in his first preseason game. He made some impact plays early. He’s going to run to the ball. He’s heavy handed, a physical player. I was excited for him to start off fast like he did. It gave him a little spark. It gave our team a little spark. He set the bar early. I’m going to expect that out of him every week. I hope he can hold up.”

And if he doesn’t, the Steelers can still turn to Harrison, as they have done the past two seasons.

Porter does want to see the 15-year veteran on the field before he declares Harrison fit to play.

“We know what he can do. At the same time, you want to see a little bit to make sure he still has got it,” Porter said. “Everybody has to be tested to see if they still got it. We can assume something. But in the NFL, sometimes you wake up one day and that pop is gone. There will be a time when we take the wrapping off of him and let him go out there so we can see if it’s still that James from last year. If it’s still that guy, we know exactly what it is. But it’s been a little time since then.

“Hoping you’ve got that and knowing are two different things.”

Odds and end zones

Among those who sat out practice Monday included linebackers Ryan Shazier and Keion Adams, safety Mike Mitchell, center Maurkice Pouncey, quarterback Landry Jones and cornerback Senquez Golson. … Running back James Conner was back and was a full participant, as were cornerback Artie Burns and Chickillo. … Corner Cameron Sutton was a limited participant for the second consecutive day. With the depth at linebacker thin, the Steelers signed rookie Austin Gearing and released receiver Canaan Severin. … The Steelers are off today. They will return to practice at Saint Vincent College at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday. That session is open to the public.