Aug 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson (17) throws against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Steelers Place QB, LB on Injured Reserve

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Steelers on SI
By Jack Markowski | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 11:32 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed a pair of players on the reserve/injured list as they head into their Week 2 home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium.

The organization announced that quarterback Skylar Thompson (hamstring) and linebacker Malik Harrison (knee) will now miss at least the next four games while residing on IR with their respective ailments.

Pittsburgh officially signed safety Jabrill Peppers and cornerback James Pierre to its 53-man roster as the corresponding moves while also adding quarterback Logan Woodside to its practice squad.

Thompson popped up on the Steelers' final injury report ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets and was ruled questionable. He later found himself among the team's inactives, which was expected, and served as their emergency No. 3 signal caller behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

Woodside, who spent time in Pittsburgh in the preseason and also previously played under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith with both the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons, will now assume those duties for the time being.

Thompson signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers in January. He was the team's No. 4 QB for most of the offseason after the team signed Rodgers and Rudolph while also drafting his former Kansas State teammate in Will Howard, but a hand injury to the latter that landed him on IR opened the door for Thompson to lock down a 53-man roster spot.

During the preseason, he threw for 498 yards, four touchdowns and an interception to go alongside a 73.2 percent completion rate in three games.

Harrison, on the other hand, went down with his injury during the fourth quarter vs. New York and did not return after eventually being ruled out.

The 27-year-old logged a tackle over four defensive snaps and 16 on special teams in his regular season debut for Pittsburgh after signing a two-year, $10 million contract with the team as a free agent in March.

An Ohio State product who played in 52 games for the program from 2016 to 2019, Harrison was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He remained with the franchise for five years, appearing in 76 games and making 34 starts. During that span, Harrison racked up 174 tackles and two sacks in the regular season while posting 23 tackles over seven postseason contests.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Steelers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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