The Indianapolis Colts handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their first loss on Sunday after a 27-24 result in Week 4. Some players on both teams engaged in competitive trash talk, such as running back Najee Harris flipping fans at Lucas Oil Stadium. However, the Colts earned the right to respond with a win, and linebacker Zaire Franklin took advantage to bring back Harris. For his part, though, the Steelers running back took the roast in stride like a good sport.
Franklin took to X, formerly Twitter, to respond to Harris, quoting another user who said: “Yet you all own [Harris]more fingers up than ypc.
“The kid is sweet. 84, run harder,” Colts linebacker jobpossibly referring to Cordarrelle Patterson of the Steelers.
After the game, Najee Harris responded to being roasted, while speaking to Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
“[Franklin’s] a great player… I was laughing, like ‘hey man, you won, you can say whatever you want,’ he said.
Week 4: Colts def. Steelers
The Steelers have dealt with significant injuries to their players, most notably starting quarterback Russell Wilson, whose preseason calf injury forced him to sit out the first four weeks of their 2024 campaign.
While Wilson seems closer to a return, other players aren’t so lucky. Against the Colts in Week 4, Steelers guard James Daniel tore his Achilles tendon, which will end his season, unfortunately cutting short a strong performance in a contract year.
Besides Wilson and Daniel, the team’s offense is underperforming, having lost rookie tackle Troy Fautanu, center Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo.
Meanwhile, quarterback Justin Fields has led the team to a 3-1 record despite all the injuries, which should end in his favor as he fights for his starting job against the returning Wilson .
Besides wins, the team should find plenty of reasons to stick with Fields even if its former starting quarterback returns to action.
On the other hand, the Steelers have not discussed contract with Najee Harris, who the Colts just roasted, after declining his fifth-year rookie option before training camp.
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This contract issue may not have surfaced yet, but the team will have to do something with his deal or potentially let him walk away for nothing after the season, depending on what happens.
Potential jobs?
Additionally, after entering the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes last offseason, the Steelers once again appear to be buyers on the trade market. Rumors are circulating that the Steelers want to trade for Davante Adams, who had requested a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Adams would prefer to play with a quarterback he knows, like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr, Pittsburgh might be able to put together a package for the Raiders to part with at wideout.
The NFL trade deadline is November 5, giving all interested teams enough roster space to complete a deal.
