Derrick Harmon’s rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers is proving to be an uneven one.
The Steelers made the defensive tackle from Oregon their first-round draft pick. Harmon then missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury. Another knee injury has forced Harmon to sit out the last two games.
The Steelers (7-6) are hopeful Harmon can return when they host the Miami Dolphins (6-7) on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium. He did not practice on Thursday, though. And missing four games in his rookie season has admittedly been frustrating at times for Harmon.
"For me, it's kind of tough because I haven't been a type of guy that got injured a lot," Harmon said. “And I come to the NFL, and it happened twice in my rookie year, so it's kind of hard. But it's part of the game, so I've just got to stay optimistic and really just stay on course."
Harmon was very disappointed that he couldn’t start his pro career until Week 3. However, Harmon’s first stint on the sidelines has made it a little easier to deal with his second absence.
"This go around was really for me just staying positive," Harmon said. "The first go around, I don't feel like I was really as positive. This one, I'm just trying to stay as positive as I can through this process. Just being in the building, showing up to meetings, and still preparing like I'm still going to play the game. That's how I look at it."
Harmon is eager to get back on the field to help a defense that is 28th in the NFL in total yards allowed. The Steelers have been particularly vulnerable to the run in the last two games that Harmon missed.
The Buffalo Bills rushed for 249 yards on Nov. 30, and the Baltimore Ravens had 217 yards on the ground last Sunday. The Steelers lost to the Bills 26-7 but beat the Ravens 27-22, taking over sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Harmon, though, believes the Steelers’ defense is beginning to play better late in the season after being a major disappointment. The 6-foot-4, 313-pound Harmon can certainly clog running lanes.
"I feel like as a unit, as a defense, we're playing together, we're doing our jobs together," Harmon said. "Guys are doing their assignments. We've just got to continue to do that at a high level."