Steelers linebacker James Harrison missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, and although Harrison has returned to start the last four games, he says he’s not 100 percent healthy. And not even close to 100 percent healthy.
Harrison told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he has no hope of being completely healthy until next season, and that all he can hope for is that as this season progresses, he can get into good enough shape that he’ll be able to make it through every game.
“I don’t believe you’ll be able to get back to 100 percent, health-wise,” Harrison said. “Conditioning-wise, it’s a possibility. Health-wise, you’re not going to be able to because as soon as you get done with surgery, you start playing, and you know you’re going to continue to deal with that little issue until the end of the season. When you finally get time to rehab it properly, you’ll be able to get to 100 percent.”
Harrison added, however, that he still thinks he can make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, saying, “A guy that’s not 100 percent can still be destructive.”
So far this season Harrison hasn’t been destructive, recording just one sack. The combination of an injury and age have made the 34-year-old Harrison a less imposing player for the Steelers’ defense.
