De’Von Achane Is Back - And the Steelers Have a Problem
De’Von Achane is active for Monday night, and that’s a big deal - especially if you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers. Miami’s rookie sensation is back in the lineup, and the timing couldn’t be worse for a Steelers defense that just lost its most important player.
Let’s call it what it is: Miami is rolling, and Achane has been right at the center of that surge. The Dolphins are riding a four-game win streak, and during that stretch, Achane has been electric - averaging 130 rushing yards per game and leaving defenders grasping at air.
His Week 10 performance against Buffalo? A jaw-dropping 225 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
That wasn’t just a breakout game - it was a warning shot to the rest of the league.
Now he returns to face a Steelers defense missing T.J. Watt, and that changes everything.
No T.J. Watt, Big Problem
Watt underwent surgery on a partially collapsed lung after a therapy session and has been ruled out. That’s not just a loss - it’s a seismic shift for a defense that builds everything around his presence.
Watt isn’t just a pass rusher. He’s the tone-setter, the edge anchor, the guy who turns broken plays into takeaways.
Without him, Pittsburgh has to rework how it generates pressure, sets the edge, and controls tempo - and that’s a dangerous puzzle to solve against a team like Miami.
This Dolphins offense is built on speed, motion, and misdirection. They make defenses commit early and punish hesitation.
And if there’s one thing Achane doesn’t need, it’s a big hole. He finds daylight in the smallest of gaps - and he gets there fast.
Why Achane Is a Nightmare Matchup
What makes Achane such a problem is that he doesn’t wait for the game to come to him - he takes it. He’s decisive, explosive, and lethal in space. And that’s exactly where Pittsburgh has struggled this season.
Even with Watt on the field, the Steelers entered this week ranked 21st in run defense. Without him, the edge becomes softer, the pressure less consistent, and the margin for error razor thin. That’s a dangerous combination when you’re facing a back who can take a stretch play 60 yards in the blink of an eye.
Buffalo saw it firsthand. When Miami leaned into its run game, Achane turned the corner and never looked back.
Pittsburgh now faces that same threat - only without its defensive anchor. That shifts this matchup from difficult to downright dangerous.
What This Game Could Reveal About Pittsburgh
Achane’s return and Watt’s absence don’t just tilt the matchup - they expose a deeper issue in Pittsburgh’s defense.
The Steelers have leaned on splash plays to cover up cracks in their run defense. Watt was the engine of that approach - collapsing pockets, forcing mistakes, and setting a hard edge.
Without him, the defense loses its teeth. It becomes reactive instead of aggressive, and that’s not a good place to be against Mike McDaniel’s offense.
If Achane finds success early, Pittsburgh will have to start chasing plays instead of dictating them. That’s when the missed tackles start piling up.
That’s when the blown assignments show up on tape. And that’s when the Dolphins can start to pull away.
This game won’t just be a test of Pittsburgh’s depth - it’ll be a spotlight on a run defense that’s been shaky all year. And if they can’t contain Achane, the verdict will be clear: without Watt, the Steelers’ defense is exposed.
Monday night is coming, and so is De’Von Achane. The Steelers better have an answer - or they’re in for a long night.