Steelers DT Derrick Harmon Eyes Return vs. Dolphins, Could Be Key to Run Defense Revival
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be getting a much-needed boost in the trenches. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon is optimistic about returning to action this Monday, after sitting out the last two games with a knee injury.
While the injury is in the same knee where Harmon suffered an MCL sprain earlier this season, he clarified that this is a separate issue entirely - not a recurrence, but a new setback he's been managing. Now, with an extra day of prep before the Steelers face the Miami Dolphins, there’s a real shot he’s back in uniform.
Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Harmon will return to practice this week, and his availability for Monday night will depend on how he looks during those sessions. The team isn’t rushing him, but they know what he brings - and they’ve felt his absence.
In the two games without Harmon, Pittsburgh’s run defense has taken a serious hit. The Steelers have allowed back-to-back games of 200+ rushing yards, giving up an average of 191.2 yards per game in that stretch.
With Harmon in the lineup earlier this season, that number was sliced in half - just 96 yards per game. That’s not a coincidence.
Harmon’s presence in the middle has been a difference-maker all year. His power at the point of attack and ability to use his length - especially his long-arm technique and bull rush - have fit perfectly in a scheme that relies on interior disruption to free up downhill attackers. He’s not just clogging lanes; he’s controlling them.
The injury came after Pittsburgh’s game against the Bears. Harmon finished the game, but reported the issue the following day. It was a tough break in what had been a promising stretch of development for the young defensive tackle.
In his absence, the Steelers have leaned on depth pieces like Esezi Otomewo, Logan Lee, and Yahya Black to fill the void inside. While they’ve shown flashes, the overall run defense hasn’t held up. Opponents have found too much room between the tackles, and the lack of interior push has made it harder for Pittsburgh’s linebackers to stay clean and flow to the ball.
Getting Harmon back would be more than just a personnel upgrade - it could be the key to stabilizing a defense that’s been leaking yards on the ground. Against a Dolphins offense that can hit you with speed and misdirection, having a disruptive force in the middle could make all the difference.
For now, all eyes are on Harmon’s practice reps. If he looks like his old self, the Steelers could be getting a major reinforcement just in time for a critical stretch of the season.