Star defenders are dropping out of Sunday's New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers game like flies.
First, it was Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (concussion). Now it might be Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Harrison hasn't sufficiently recovered from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, so it looks like he will not play. If he doesn't, the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year will miss his second game in a row. The Steelers listed Harrision as questionable.
CBSSports.com reports that another former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Troy Polamalu, also is likely to be out. The Steelers safety hasn't practiced all week because of a calf injury and is questionable.
"James is the player of the year a few years ago, so you know he's a great player," Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau told the Post-Gazette. "But we've played without him and Troy, who won the (defensive) MVP award. We've played without him. Our guys know what's required of them -- they have to step up and fill the vacancy and push on.
"We miss those guys, we'll be happy when we get them back, but it should never be a factor in who wins the game."
I'm not quite sure playing without a pair the caliber of Harrison and Polamalu shouldn't be a factor, but we get what LeBeau is saying. Next man up.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
