Roughly 12 hours after defeating the Miami Dolphins, head coach Mike Tomlin was already addressing the media about the team’s Week 16 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
As he usually does, Tomlin addressed the team’s injuries entering the matchup. Most notably, the head coach provided the latest on edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon.
Tomlin told reporters that Watt might’ve been back in the team facility but wasn’t 100% sure. The Steelers coach also doesn’t know if the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year will play in Detroit.
“I’ve got no new news on T.J.,” Tomlin told reporters. “I’m sure I will a little later in the week, but I hadn’t heard any new updates regarding his availability or what that looks like as he starts to work his way back to us this week. No real news there.”
Tomlin had a much more positive update on Harmon.
“We had some guys that missed the previous game or games and are angling toward getting back. Probably the most favorable of those is Derrick Harmon,” Tomlin said. “He was probably healthy enough to play at the very end of last week. But as a young guy with limited rep opportunities, I didn’t think it would be fair to him or to us to put him in uniform.
“He will have an opportunity to get a complete week’s work. Giving him an opportunity to go back to his hometown and play some football. Excited about getting him back.”
Harmon has missed the past three weeks with a knee injury. Up until Monday night, the Steelers defense had struggled against the run without Harmon on the field.
Watt is trying to return from surgery last week that repaired a partially collapsed lung. The edge rusher suffered the lung issue after receiving dry needling treatment at the team facility Wednesday.
Derrick Harmon Set to Return for Steelers, No Update on T.J. Watt
Before Monday night’s game against the Dolphins, the Steelers really missed Harmon. They were allowing nearly 100 more rushing yards per game in contests without the rookie defensive lineman than with him this season.
That changed versus the Dolphins, as the Steelers yielded only 63 rushing yards. Still, the Pittsburgh defense could use Harmon back, especially for the Lions.
Detroit will enter Week 16 ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards. Buffalo and Baltimore, who are top 3 in the league in rushing, each had more than 200 rushing yards versus the Steelers without Harmon.
“He has certainly been an asset to us, particularly in terms of defending and stopping the run,” Tomlin said. “Anticipating what we’re going to be facing this week, that’ll be big.”
Obviously, the Steelers defense would get a big boost with Watt back as well. Watt has been one of the best pass rushers in the league over the past eight years.
But the Steelers do have edge rushing depth. Pittsburgh posted four sacks versus the Dolphins without Watt.
Tomlin Details Other Injuries Ahead of Week 16
Watt getting back is more important after one of his replacements, Nick Herbig, suffered a hamstring injury Monday night.
Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that Herbig will be limited in practice to begin the week. Other than that, the head coach didn’t elaborate.
Watt and Herbig have combined for 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss this season. Alex Highsmith is the only other Steelers defender with at least five sacks in 2025.
It would be a significant loss for the Pittsburgh defense if the unit is without both edge rushers in Detroit.
Offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo also suffered an injury Monday. Tomlin added he will be limited to begin the week as well.
Fellow lineman Andrus Peat remains in the concussion protocol.
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