As the Steelers’ defensive coordinator since 2004, Dick LeBeau should have as good a read on James Harrison as anyone. And as LeBeau sees it, the 36-year-old outside linebacker stayed in decent-enough shape during his recent (and brief) time away from football.
“I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen,” LeBeau said of Harrison on Thursday, according to the team. “I knew that he would be lifting. That’s just James. But I think his overall conditioning is not bad.
“He hasn’t played football for a long time. We’ll have to keep our eye on him but it’s been good seeing him out here.”
The Steelers re-signed Harrison on Tuesday upon placing outside linebacker Jarvis Jones on injured reserve/designated to return with a wrist injury. Harrison played with Cincinnati a season ago, but prior to that, he spent nine seasons with Pittsburgh, the last six as a starter.
However, Harrison isn’t ticketed to start for Pittsburgh with Jones out; that role will go to Arthur Moats. But Harrison is the only other outside linebacker on the depth chart, so there are snaps to be had.
While deferring to coach Mike Tomlin on the subject of whether Harrison would play Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, LeBeau indicated he believed Harrison would be suiting up in Week Four. As LeBeau put it: “I don’t think Mike brought him back to not dress him.”
