LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – He's been the Steelers top running back since his name was called by Roger Goodell last Spring, but Najee Harris wants to be challenged.
"That's what makes me do better if I see the guys really competing and really trying their best to perform, that's good," Harris said after practice Wednesday at St. Vincent College. "I tell Jaylen (Warren) and everybody, don't practice to be the number two, practice to take my spot. I tell them that all the time. Don't come in here thinking that you are practicing to be the number two, try to practice to be number one."
"You are going to make yourself and me better."
Harris said all of them are good. He made sure to avoid anointing anyone the backup, saying it's not his position to talk about who is going to be that person. He's trying to handle his own business.
Jaylen Warren
"For him to come in here, he turned a lot of heads in camp, surprised a lot of people," Harris said of undrafted rookie Jaylen Warren. "I think he's a good player. I look forward to see what he does in the future."
Anthony McFarland
"Anthony has looked really good this whole camp," Harris said of the third-year back who is finally healthy. "He made sure that he could be that guy. Him at running back, out of the slot, him being so versatile. That's what separates him from a lot of people. I even told him he's doing a good-ass job."
Najee was not asked specifically about fourth-year tailback Benny Snell or undrafted rookie Mataeo Durant.
Health
This is the first week with everyone back on offense, Harris said they continue to work on their bond together. All with the goal of being ready for the opener in Cincinnati on September 11. He thinks the adversity of camp (injuries to Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Kevin Dotson, Pat Freiermuth, Snell, Zach Gentry) has helped answer some questions about their depth.
"Through this camp we learned that there are going to be injuries, that's something that is going to happen," Harris said. "Got to make sure the twos or whoever is behind has to be ready. I think they've stepped up all camp and at the preseason game. You are only as good as your weakest link. I think we are in good shape right now."
He noted he's really been out the most and won't play in the preseason game on Saturday. Harris thinks he should be ready to go against Detroit, if that is needed at all. It could be a coach's decision that he wouldn't play. He's been working hard to get back into the condition that allowed him to have the most touches in the NFL last year.
"I got hurt, so I had to find a way to replace the days that I missed not running," Harris said. "I try to run after practice, (and) as much as I can before practice."
He does it in full uniform, or has much of the uniform as they are wearing on a given practice day. He targets the lower body saying a big back like himself gets hit mostly on the hips and thighs.
"It's hot as hell out here, I'm dehydrated," Harris said during an interview that happened about an hour after practice, most of that time he trained. "I want to be prepared for everything that's presented to me during the season. If it's a heavy workload, I want to be prepared for that. I was down for two weeks, I've been doing a lot of swimming, hills, running extra, even the plays in practice, I finish extra."
The second-year tailback says it's a fourth-quarter mentality and it's about making sure he has extra juice in the tank.
Mitch Trubisky
Likely the starting quarterback at least to start the season, Harris asked about what he's seen from Mitch Trubisky.
"He's got a good feel for everybody," Harris said. "He's been here for us to build that relationship, that bond. I think that Mitch from when we first started, people didn't know how he was as a person. I think they have a pretty good feel how he is and how he will provide for us."
Harris said Trubisky is a dad first and always talks about his kid. He also is a competitor and said 'that's what you want as a quarterback'.
Kenny Pickett
Najee sounded quickly like he was reflecting on his rookie season last year when discussing Kenny Pickett. He says the 2022 first-round pick has made a huge jump as he's progressed every step of the way.
"You see him going through his reads better," Pickett said. "He's taking more control. He's feeling more confident.
That's what he needs."
"He has the talent, he just needs the confidence and the team to back him up. It's a drastic jump from OTAs and mini-camp. He's going to be good for sure."
