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Steelers set to unleash Harrison

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PITTSBURGH – After allowing more than 200 yards rushing in two of their past three games, the Steelers could be ready to unleash the beast Sunday in Kansas City.

Thirty-nine-year-old outside linebacker James Harrison has played just seven snaps thus far this season and has been inactive in each of Pittsburgh’s past two games.

But defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Thursday the time might be ripe to get Harrison back into the lineup.

“It’s always good to have James Harrison when you’re playing Kansas City and let their offensive tackle see him,” said Butler. “I’ll just say that. I’ll leave it at that. You can imagine what might happen.”

Harrison has had some big games working against Kansas City left tackle Eric Fisher, the former No. 1-overall pick in the 2013 draft, including forcing a key holding penalty against Fisher in last year’s 18-16 playoff win over the Chiefs that negated a game-tying two-point conversion.

The Steelers (3-2) have kept their all-time sack leader on the sidelines largely this season while rookie T.J. Watt, the team’s top pick in this year’s draft, has played the majority of the snaps at right outside linebacker.

But Harrison’s on-field presence isn’t just about getting sacks. He might be the team’s best at setting the edge in the running game. And with the Steelers struggling to stop the run, the time could be ripe for his return.

Butler wasn’t blaming Watt for his team allowing 231 yards rushing in a 30-9 loss to Jacksonville last Sunday, but did not that the long runs the Jaguars had in the fourth quarter were the result of young players trying to do too much.

“We got behind and we really needed to stop them and we had a couple of guys try to do above and beyond, instead of just doing what they’re supposed to do,” Butler said.

In Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt, the Steelers will face a running back who leads the NFL with 609 rushing yards. Nearly half of his yardage – 279 – has come on eight runs, with all but one of those runs coming in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s games.

“That’s what good backs do, they get stronger as the game goes on,” said Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier. “He’ll keep pounding away, trying to wear you down. And if you’re not in the hole you’re supposed to be in, he’ll break one.”

If that sounds familiar, it’s because that is what has happened to the Steelers in two of their past three games.

The Steelers allowed runs of 90 and 19 yards in the fourth quarter against Jacksonville and 36, 19 and 18 yards in overtime in a 23-17 defeat at Chicago.

The big runs have not only led to losses, but also have helped skew Pittsburgh’s run defense numbers, as well.

The Steelers enter Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium allowing nearly 137 yards rushing per game, the fifth-highest total in the league. Behind Hunt’s strong start, the Chiefs (5-0) average 156 yards rushing per game.

The Steelers lead the NFL in pass defense and would have one of the top units in the league if they weren’t getting gouged on the ground, especially late in games.

For example, Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette had 15 carries for 43 yards but finished with 181 yards after a big fourth quarter, including the 90-yard run.

“We had the game contained,” defensive end Stephon Tuitt said. “When he broke the run off at the end, it made it worse than what it was. That’s why it’s always important to be in your gap. That’s why it’s always important to be consistent at every position. When you become inconsistent, that takes a game that was manageable to this guy having an incredible game.”

The Steelers can’t afford for that to happen against Hunt if they hope to hand the Chiefs their first loss.

That’s where having Harrison on the field more could make a difference.

He didn’t start in 2016 until the final seven games of the regular season, sharing time with Jarvis Jones before that.

Not including a game against Cleveland in the regular season finale when the Steelers rested a number of starters, the defense allowed an average of 51 yards rushing per game with Harrison in the lineup.

As Harrison said a couple of weeks ago when asked about his inactivity, “I can set the edge when I’m 60.”

He’s not quite there, but perhaps Sunday, he’ll get a chance.

Odds and end zones

After sitting out practice Wednesday, center Maurkice Pouncey (chest) and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (quad) were full participants on Thursday. … The only Steelers player to miss practice Thursday was guard Ramon Foster (back). … Kansas City has gone 311 consecutive offensive plays without turning the ball over.

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