NFL Monday night: Najee Harris records third straight 100-yard game for Steelers

In the first five games of Pittsburgh’s 2024 NFL season, running back Najee Harris had 270 yards without a touchdown on 82 rushing attempts as the Steelers posted a 3-2 record. In the past three games, Harris has run for 322 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries as Pittsburgh has gone undefeated.

The former Alabama All-American extended his streak of 100-yard games to three in the Steelers’ 26-18 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.

Against the Giants, Harris had 114 yards on 19 rushing attempts and 17 yards on three receptions.

In his fourth NFL season, Harris recorded his ninth 100-yard rushing game. Harris became the sixth former Alabama player with a streak of at least three 100-yard rushing games in the NFL, joining Shaun Alexander, Derrick Henry, Bobby Humphrey, Mark Ingram and Josh Jacobs. Those five players combined for 12 such streaks.

Wide receiver Calvin Austin provided the fireworks for Pittsburgh. After each team posted three field goals in the first half, Austin returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson in the fourth quarter as the Steelers built a 14-point lead.

Former Auburn wide receiver Darius Slayton had four receptions for 108 yards for the Giants. Slayton had the seventh 100-yard receiving game in his NFL career, and he’s reached that milestone in both his outings against the Steelers. Slayton had six receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s 26-16 loss to Pittsburgh on Sept. 14, 2020.

In addition to Harris and Slayton, seven players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the New York-Pittsburgh game:

· Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at free safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick made four tackles and broke up one pass.

· Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) was designated as a game-day inactive. A groin injury kept Flott out of the lineup.

· Steelers cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chris Hubbard (UAB) started at left offensive tackle for the Giants. New York signed Hubbard off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad on Oct. 18 after left tackle Andrew Thomas sustained a season-ending foot injury. Joshua Ezeudu started in Thomas’ spot last week. Hubbard had 58 NFL regular-season starts before Monday night, but none at left tackle. He had started 51 games at right tackle, four at right guard and, in the early days of his career with the Steelers, three as an extra lineman in lieu of a tight end.

· Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Steelers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) made one tackle on special teams.

· Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (Alabama) did not record any stats in his 2024 debut. Neal made his first appearance of the season on a 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter.

· Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) started at defensive tackle for the Giants. Nunez-Roches made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

· Steelers running back La’Mical Perine (Theodore) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had four receptions for 74 yards. Pickens caught two passes in the end zone without getting a touchdown. On the first, a penalty nullified the reception. On the second, Pickens landed on his right foot twice without his left foot touching the ground before being knocked out of bounds.

· Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (South Alabama) averaged 43.7 yards on three punts, with a 43.0-yard net. Waitman had a 40-yard punt for a fair catch at the New York 17-yard line, a 55-yarder with a 2-yard return to the New York 26 and a 36-yarder for a fair catch at the New York 7.

· Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Pittsburgh (6-2) is entering its bye week. The Steelers’ next game is at noon CST Nov. 10 against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The Commanders also are the next opponent for the Giants (2-6). New York plays Washington at noon Nov. 3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.