Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, a key part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ run defense, will not play against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
Harmon has been dealing with a right knee injury that has caused him to miss each of the team’s last two games, but there was increased optimism that he would be able to play this week.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he was optimistic about the chances of Harmon returning to action this week, a stance echoed by Harmon himself later in the week.
“I’m optimistic, man,” he said on Thursday. “I’m really just trying to take it day by day. Really, once my number’s called to get back out there, I’m kinda getting impatient, but it’s part of the game.”
Harmon missed practice on Thursday and Friday and was limited on Saturday before being given a questionable designation for the Monday Night Football contest.
Without Harmon, fellow rookie Yahya Black has started each of the last two games, and Esezi Otomewo has seen a significantly increased role as the team’s No. 4 defensive lineman.
Harmon has missed four games this season with a pair of knee injuries, the first two and the most recent two. In those four games, the Steelers have allowed 191.25 yards per game. In the nine that Harmon has played, they’ve allowed nearly 100 fewer yards per game, at 96.
The Steelers will be facing one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL this season, and the best over the last four weeks. De’Von Achane has 1,126 yards this season, and is fourth in the league in rushing yards. He left Miami’s win over the New York Jets in Week 14 early with a rib injury, but has been cleared to play against the Steelers. Over the last four Miami games, even with leaving the Jets game early, Achane has 520 rushing yards and is averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
With game-time temperature forecast to be 17 degrees and a wind chill of six degrees, both the Steelers and Dolphins will likely be looking to establish the running game early.
OLB T.J. Watt (lung)
OL Andrus Peat (concussion)
CB James Pierre (calf)
DT Derrick Harmon (knee)
WR Roman Wilson
DT Brodric Martin
3rd QB Will Howard
DB Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee)
OT Larry Borom (illness)
CB A.J. Green III
WR Tahj Washington
DT Matthew Butler
3rd QB Quinn Ewers
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Run Defense Dealt Crippling Blow for Dolphins Game
