Derrick Harmon was selected 21st overall in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harmon has missed the last two games for the Steelers. He sat out in weeks 13 and 14 due to a knee injury.
Harmon has been bothered by a knee injury twice this season, missing a total of four games.
He missed the first two games of the season and the last two games.
However, when Harmon has played, he has been a force. He is getting pressure from the interior of the defensive line.
Harmon has also been excellent against the run.
Derrick Harmon A Force In Stopping The Run
In certain games this season, the Steelers have been gashed by the run. Well, in the game, the Steelers have struggled to stop the run, Derrick Harmon did not play in those contests.
Here is how the Steelers have fared against the run with and without Harmon this season. Harmon has played in nine games and has missed four games this season.
- With Derrick Harmon (nine games): 96 rushing yards per game allowed
- Without Derrick Harmon (four games): 191.25 rushing yards per game allowed
This is a massive difference against the run.
Pittsburgh ranks 21st in rushing yards allowed per game. They allow 125.3 rushing yards per game.
Looking at the games that Harmon has played and missed. The Steelers rank last in rushing yards allowed per game when he sits, compared to allowing 96 rushing yards per game allowed which would rank sixth in games Harmon plays.
In week 13, the Bills ran for 249 yards against Pittsburgh. Harmon did not play.
On a defense that has T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Alex Highsmith, it has been Derrick Harmon who has been the best against the run.
With Watt Out Monday & Maybe Longer, Harmon’s Return Can’t Come Soon Enough
J.J. Watt provided an update on his brother, T.J. Watt. In a lengthy post on X, J.J. said, “Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility. Recovery timeline is TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today. He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes.”
Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility.
Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today.
He and his…
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 12, 2025
T.J. Watt will not play Monday against the Dolphins and could miss more games.
With Watt out Monday and possibly longer, the Steelers could use Harmon’s presence.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Thursday and Friday practices do not offer much hope that Harmon can return in week 15.
Derrick Harmon Not Practicing Yet Ahead Of Week 15
According to the Steelers’ injury report, Derrick Harmon was listed as a DNP on Thursday and Friday due to the knee injury that has caused him to miss the last two games.
This does not bode well for a return for Harmon in week 15. Even if he can practice in a limited fashion on Saturday, Harmon will almost surely be listed as questionable. Steelers fans hope he is not ruled out for the game.
Pittsburgh faces a Dolphins team that has a dangerous rushing attack with De’Von Achane. Achane could be in store for a big day against a Steelers defense that will be without Watt and very possibly Harmon as well.
Another bad sign for the Steelers’ defensive line is that Yahya Black went from a full practice participant on Thursday to DNP Friday due to a shoulder injury. Keanu Benton also went backwards in practice, going from full on Thursday to limited Friday due to an ankle injury.
The final injury report will be key for the Steelers. The Steelers will need all of Harmon, Black, and Benton to play with Watt already ruled out.
Will The Steelers Win The AFC North?
With four games remaining, here is a look at the AFC North standings:
- 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- 2. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
- 3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
- 4. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
The AFC North is a two-team race between the Steelers and Ravens. Pittsburgh has the edge as the Steelers defeated Baltimore in week 14. The Ravens and Steelers will play once more in week 18. The week 18 matchup could end up deciding the division, unless the Steelers can clinch the division beforehand.
Here are the remaining games for the Steelers:
- Week 15: vs Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- Week 16: @ Detroit Lions (8-5)
- Week 17: @ Cleveland Browns (3-10)
- Week 18: vs Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
Here are the remaining games for the Ravens:
- Week 15: @ Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
- Week 16: vs New England Patriots (11-2)
- Week 17: @ Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Week 18: vs Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Pittsburgh is 3-1 against divisional opponents and 6-3 against conference opponents. Baltimore is 2-2 against divisional opponents and 4-5 against conference opponents.
The Steelers have the head-to-head matchup edge, the division record edge, and the conference record edge.
With the Ravens having the much more challenging remaining four games, it is shaping up for the Steelers to win the division.
To wrap up the division before week 18, the Steelers defeating Miami and Baltimore losing to Cincinnati would be massive.
All signs point to the Steelers winning the division, but with injuries mounting on the defensive side of the ball, it is not a lock.
Can The Steelers Win A Playoff Game If They Win The Division?
For the Steelers to make the playoffs, they have to win the division. They will not get in as a wild-card team. While the Steelers can not be trusted and nothing is a lock with this team, the odds are in their favor of winning the AFC North.
As for winning a playoff game, the Steelers have not won a postseason game since 2016.
For them to end this drought, who they face in the wild-card round will dictate if they have a chance of winning a playoff game.
Currently, the fourth-seeded Steelers will take on the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Chargers. This matchup is the best-case scenario for the Steelers. Yes, the Steelers lost to the Chargers earlier this season, but they played them on the road and played well on defense. Aaron Rodgers missed a bunch of throws and lost the game for the Steelers. Playing at home against the West Coast Chargers in Pittsburgh is the best chance for the Steelers to win a playoff game.
If Pittsburgh has to face the Bills, Texans, Patriots, or Jaguars, this would not bode well for the Steelers to win a playoff game.
Buffalo already smashed the Steelers earlier this season and would do so with Josh Allen once again.
Houston’s defense is ferocious and would swallow up Pittsburgh’s offensive line. The Texans are an awful matchup for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh needed five turnovers to beat the Patriots by seven points in week 3. This will not happen again, and the Patriots will defeat the Steelers this time around.
With Liam Coen as the head coach for the Jaguars, he is the perfect type of coach to take advantage of Mike Tomlin’s defense. Jacksonville is a bad matchup, as they have the edge in coaching.
Every team the Steelers could face in the playoffs would have the QB edge.
The chances of the Steelers winning a playoff game this season are not good. The best chance would be to face the Chargers in the wild-card round.
