Why Derrick Harmon didn’t play against the Dolphins even though he’s healthy

Monday night’s win over Miami it snapped Pittsburgh’s longest home streakbut one notable name never fit. Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon was inactive though Mike Tomlin said he finished the week healthy enough to go, a decision rooted more in development than medical clearance.

As Brooke Pryor reported on X, Tomlin explained that because Harmon is young, the team preferred to hold it until he accumulates more repetitions for the exercise before re-entering the rotation.

The way Tomlin framed it, it sounds less like a setback and more like a final checkpoint, with the expectation that Harmon will be ready in Detroit, his hometown.

That context is important because the Steelers looked like a team that didn’t need any extra help to deal with the Dolphins. Pittsburgh controlled much of the night in a 28-15 victory, and the defense held Miami to just three points before the fourth quarter.

Even without TJ Watt, the Steelers still came home for four sacks, once defended Tua Tagovailoa and consistently won turnovers by stopping Miami on third downs six times in eight attempts.

Offensively, the Steelers were clean and efficient. Aaron Rodgers threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, and the ground game added real stability behind Kenneth Gainwell’s 80 yards on 13 carries.

The biggest “hidden” win was that Pittsburgh finished the game without a turnover, the kind of detail that keeps tight AFC races from slipping away.

Tomlin also praised the emergency starter. With injuries forcing Dylan Cook to the practice squad for his first NFL start at left tackle, Tomlin said Cook was “above the line” and credited him with “holding the standard” while acknowledging that the staff helped him adjust the protection scheme.

Now 8-6, the Steelers carry the momentum into a high-stakes stretch. If Harmon suits up in Detroit as expected, it will be another small but important step in rounding out a roster that is trying to peak at the right time.