Who is DeAngelo Williams' backup for Week 1?

The Steelers need a backup running back for the first two weeks of the season when Le’Veon Bell is suspended. Josh Harris was expected to be that player, but he battled two injuries during training camp and is coming off a poor performance in the fourth preseason game against Buffalo.

Coach Mike Tomlin singled out Harris a few days before the game when he said: “There’s a certain level of urgency coming back for those that are injured, guys like Josh Harris, it’s a big week for him.”

How did Harris respond?

He had 20 yards on 10 carries and allowed two sacks in pass protection. It’s always difficult to judge running backs when reserve offensive linemen are in the game, but not being able to pick up blitzes is the bigger problem for Harris in an offense that passes so often.

And don’t forget, the Steelers did not trust Harris enough last January when they needed a running back for the playoff game against the Ravens. They went out and got Ben Tate off the street and started him four days after signing him.

Don’t be surprised if the Steelers cut Harris and sign a running back after the teams make their final cuts next week. If they started Tate in a playoff game four days after signing him they won’t hesitate to sign one as a backup and prepare him to be the backup for two weeks.

And no, Dri Archer can’t be the backup for a two-week stretch. He’s a liability in pass protection, too. Read into it what you want, but Archer played 65 snaps on offense in the first two preseason games. He’s played 11 combined snaps the past two weeks, including only three against the Bills.

*Where else might the Steelers look for depth when other teams make their final cuts?

The offensive and defensive lines are possibilities.

Of the 75 centers who have snapped the ball in the NFL during the preseason, Chris Hubbard is ranked 69th, according to Pro Football Focus. He is new to the position, having snapped a ball in an NFL game for the first time against the Packers, but the Steelers might want to upgrade if someone better is released by another team.

*The defensive line lacks depth, too. If Stephon Tuitt cannot play against the Patriots, Cam Thomas is likely to start and the top reserve would be rookie sixth-round pick L.T. Walton or Ethan Hemer. Defensive line coaches like to rotate players, especially early in the season when the weather is hot, but if Tuitt cannot play against the Patriots you’d be asking someone with no NFL experience to play at least a few snaps to spell Cam Heyward and Thomas. That’s not an ideal situation.

*The Steelers must trim their roster from 90 to 75 by Tuesday. Let’s take a stab at the 15 players who might be cut: TE Cam Clear, DT Niko Davis, G Miles Dieffenbach, C Reese Dismukes, WR Kenzel Doe, LB L.J. Fort, OLB Shayon Green, RB Braylon Heard, DT Joe Okafor, CB Jordan Sullen, DT Mike Thornton, WR Jarrod West, T Kevin Whimpey and S Alden Darby and TE Ray Hamilton.