The sole silver lining in the dark cloud regarding the shoulder injury to Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith was the possibility he’d be back in January, for the playoff run.
Now, there’s no silver lining at all for the Steel Curtain.
The Steelers have placed Smith on injured reserve, which means that he will not play again in 2009.
To fill the spot on the roster, the Steelers have elevated rookie defensive end Ra’Shon Harris from the Panthers practice squad. A sixth-round pick by Pittsburgh in the 2009 draft, Harris was among the final roster cuts, he was claimed on waivers by the Panthers, he was later cut, and then he signed to the practice squad.