PITTSBURGH -- James Harrison did not have to introduce himself to the reporters hovering over him as he sat in front of his locker earlier this week.
But the veteran outside linebacker felt the need to do so anyway following a question about whether there are enough snaps to go around at a position that has legitimate depth for the first time this season.
“My name is James Harrison. I’m a player,” he said. “You’ve got to ask the coaches about that.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a four-man rotation at outside linebacker on Sunday against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs if the coaches choose to go that route.
Harrison, who is expected to return to action after missing the past two games because of a knee injury, Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats have all started at least one game at right outside linebacker.
Jones, who opened the season as the starter, may be in line to play the most snaps there as he continues to get his football legs back after missing nine games because of a dislocated wrist. Moats, who has started 10 games at right outside linebacker, may actually be the odd man out there with Harrison returning.
The Steelers could use Moats at left outside linebacker to spell Jason Worilds, who played every snap in a 27-20 win at Atlanta last Sunday.
“They’ll all play,” Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. “You can never have too many good players. Early part of the year we were looking around to see if we four [outside linebackers to play].”
The injury that Jones sustained in a Sept. 21 win at Carolina left the Steelers perilously thin at outside linebacker and compelled them to coax Harrison out of retirement.
Jones and Harrison will play together for the first time on Sunday, and the former is hoping to make more of an impact after registering just one quarterback sack in the Steelers’ past two games.
“I really haven’t done much,” said Jones, who has been playing in the nickel package while working his way back into football shape. “Being in football pads is totally different than just running on the field and changing direction. I’m excited to see how it’s going to look when James comes back with the four-man rotation.”