Lions first-round draft pick Taylor Decker is the starting left tackle tonight in his first preseason game. James Harrison, the Steelers’ 38-year-old outside linebacker, is teaching Decker a lesson.
Harrison steamrolled past Decker and hit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, forcing a fumble that the Steelers recovered to end the Lions’ first offensive drive. On the play before that, Stafford scrambled for a first down, but it was called back by a holding penalty on Decker.
Now one of the oldest players in the NFL, Harrison still looks as intimidating as ever on the football field. Decker is overmatched against him, and his performance tonight may make the Lions reconsider whether Decker will be ready to be their Week One starter protecting Stafford’s blind side.
Stafford came out of the game after the first drive. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play at all. Both teams are trying to keep their key players healthy, but with Harrison on the field against a rookie, no quarterback is safe.
