Derrick Harmon didn’t just return from injury against the Lions yesterday; he returned to his hometown of Detroit. Harmon grew up there, attending Loyola High School before going to Michigan State. Initially, he stayed close to home to remain near his ailing mother, who suffered a stroke his freshman year of college. But he transferred to Oregon his senior season, raising his stock before the Steelers selected him in the first round.
Harmon’s mother passed away shortly after the Steelers drafted him, making his return to Detroit all the more emotional. More practically, he missed the past three games due to injury, “agitated” that he couldn’t play last week.