PITTSBURGH — Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick started the week before Monday night’s return to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers by saying it was just another game, but he acknowledged after the Dolphins’ 28-15 loss there were emotions.

“I played here for six seasons, spilled a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the organization of Pittsburgh,” Fitzpatrick said in the locker room after the game. “So there obviously is emotions going through the mind, but I think, at the end of the day, it’s an important game because the Dolphins needed to get a win.

“You kind of have to put those emotions to the side and play ball.”

What Fitzpatrick meant to both franchises was evident in how players from both sides came onto the field and huddled, many of them on a knee, when Fitzpatrick went down with a calf injury and was down on the Acrisure Stadium field.

“I think the first thing was that he hadn’t had a calf injury before,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “It really scared him. We’ll find out more as we get tests (Tuesday).”

Fitzpatrick finished with six tackles Monday. He missed a key one against Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, who shoved Fitzpatrick aside before eluding other Miami defenders for a 28-yard touchdown that put Pittsburgh ahead, 21-3.

Fitzpatrick did not return to action after the calf injury but spoke in the locker room postgame.

Gordon injured

The Dolphins had rookie running back Ollie Gordon II injure his ankle on a carry in the second quarter.

Gordon had a third-and-1 carry going left and was twisted down by Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen for a loss of 4 yards that had Miami settle for a long, successful field goal

Gordon was deemed questionable to return then but didn’t go back in.

Bell signed

The Dolphins decided to have veteran outside linebacker Quinton Bell on the active roster for good Monday afternoon ahead of their game against the Steelers.

The Dolphins signed Bell, a solid special teams contributor also capable of playing defensive snaps, to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Bell, who played in all 17 games in 2024 and has been up and down from the practice squad with Miami since 2023, had already been elevated three previous times this season, the maximum allowed before a team must choose to sign a player to bring him up again.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins waived fellow outside linebacker Andre Carter II to make room on the active roster.

The Dolphins opted against activating second-year reserve offensive lineman Andrew Meyer off injured reserve Monday.

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That decision was expected after just one week back at practice for Meyer from his triceps injury. Coach Mike McDaniel said as much Saturday, in detailing Meyer’s strong practice week.

“It went very well,” McDaniel said Saturday morning before the Dolphins traveled early to Pittsburgh to go through a night practice in western Pennsylvania’s snow ahead of Monday night. “I was pumped to see him out there. I don’t anticipate this week, but he made progress on the field without a setback so we were happy about that.”

Meyer has been on IR since the start of the season after suffering the triceps ailment during training camp. He is still early in his 21-day window to be activated off IR, designated for return Thursday.

He’s in his second season out of Texas-El Paso after making the Dolphins’ roster as an undrafted rookie in 2024.

For the second consecutive week, the Dolphins elevated offensive lineman Kion Smith, who was previously on the active roster, from the practice squad.

The Steelers signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their roster from their practice squad hours before kickoff.

Injury report

The Steelers were without their big rookie defensive tackle and key run-stuffer Derrick Harmon for Monday night’s game.

Harmon entered Monday questionable with a knee injury after he went through a limited practice Saturday.

It’s the third consecutive game that the 6-foot-4, 313-pound strong run defender missed. In his absence, Pittsburgh allowed 249 and 217 rushing yards in games against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens the Steelers’ previous two times out.

Players for both the Dolphins and Steelers were added to their injury reports Monday due to illnesses.

The Dolphins had backup tackle Larry Borom inactive due to his illness. Smith was among backup linemen available for Miami on Monday, along with Daniel Brunskill and Kendall Lamm, with Borom out.

The Steelers had starting running back Jaylen Warren surface on the injury report but ultimately remain active.

Warren is Pittsburgh’s leading rusher, with 652 rushing yards this season, adding 277 receiving yards, entering Monday night’s game.

Pittsburgh had outside linebacker T.J. Watt (lung), left tackle Andrus Peat (concussion) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) already ruled out.

Miami defensive back and special teams gunner Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) was among inactives for the Dolphins after entering Monday doubtful.

Healthy Dolphins inactives Monday night were wide receiver Tahj Washington, cornerback A.J. Green III, defensive tackle Matthew Butler and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’s available as an emergency third quarterback.