And it may have been a blessing in disguise for the franchise.

Because now with Harmon returning to the field by making his NFL debut, the Steelers realized they drafted two gems on the defensive line in the same year.

Yahya Black, the fifth round defensive tackle out of Iowa has quickly proved to coach Mike Tomlin that he belongs as a starter.

Currently, in Harmon’s absence, along with the injury to Isaiahh Loudermilk, Black was primarily being used as a defensive end, though his main position is on the interior. He recorded two pressures, two hurries, three solo tackles and six total tackles.

And given how starting nose tackle Keeanu Benton has struggled in the first two games, especially against the run, it’s starting to give Steeler fans ideas that Black can potentially take over for Benton.

That may be a little too premature though. Pittsburgh’s run defense has certainly stalled to start the season by letting up 100-plus yard games to both Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III. A lot of that is on Benton, who has compiled an abysmal 46.5 PFF run block grade.

But according to Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, Black could be next in line as the starter.

When doing a Q&A mailbag on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Fittipaldo was asked by a fan “So you think Yahya Black is NT at some point this year?”

Fittipaldo didn’t hold back by saying, “Yes especially if Benton continues to struggle.” 

Black hasn’t been much better against the run, as shown in one major run by Walker where Black got pancaked by Seahawks’ left tackle Charles Cross, but as someone who typically plays on the interior, getting punked on the edge was going to happen eventually.

A 6-foot-5 336 pound defensive end? It’s almost unheard of unless Black was built solely on muscle. But for someone who his teammates call “Big Snack,” it sounds like someone who belongs on the interior.

Black was a big part of the University of Iowa’s staunch defense. The Hawkeyes are notorious to getting in low scoring games due to their emphasis on playing gritty ball, and Black was at the center of it being the main disruptor.

Over his five year career, he recorded 117 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and 15 tackles for loss.

It’s a presence that the Steelers desperately need in the interior, given how porous the run defense has been. 

The Steel Curtain has suddenly turned into a linen curtain from Shein. And the only way to reinforce that is by trying a new method.