The NFL career of Miami Dolphins cornerback Noah Igbinoghene hasn’t matched his draft position yet. But on his most recent pro snap, the former Auburn standout made a play worthy of any all-star defensive back.

A first-round choice in the 2020 NFL Draft, Igbinoghene made the fourth start of his career on Sunday night, and he ended it with the interception that sealed the Dolphins’ 16-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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“That’s all the coaches have been preaching is just ‘Get the ball, Noah, get the ball,’” Igbinoghene said. “And I was able to get it. I wasn’t really worried about the critics and what everyone else was saying. I’m just focused on this team and what the coaches want me to do.  Got this win for the team. Got the win, so that’s the most important thing.”

The first interception of Igbinoghene’s NFL career came with 18 seconds remaining after the Steelers had moved 62 yards in 10 plays in 66 seconds to threaten Miami’s six-point lead from the Dolphins 25-yard line.

Igbinoghene picked off Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett on a second-and-2 snap as he managed to get both feet down inbounds in the front corner of the end zone after jumping to catch the football, although the official closest to him initially ruled the play an incompletion.

“I turned around, I was playing my responsibility and the ball was right there,” Igbinoghene said, “and at first I didn’t think I caught it because the referee right there said it was out. I saw the review, and I saw everyone get excited, and I got excited as well. I got the interception, and it’s my first one. It’s a blessing.”

Miami coach Mike McDaniel said this week that Igbinoghene’s teammates weren’t just excited with him, but they were excited for him knowing his NFL journey.

Coming to Auburn from Hewitt-Trussville High School as a wide receiver, Igbinoghene made the switch to the secondary during spring practice in 2018 after one college season as a pass-catcher.

After Igbinoghene’s two seasons in the Tigers’ secondary, Miami made him the 30th choice in the 2020 NFL Draft. Igbinoghene played in every game as a rookie, making two starts and taking 287 defensive snaps. Last season, his defensive action consisted of 78 snaps in seven games. This season, Igbinoghene didn’t play a defensive snap in the first four games, played in 31 apiece in the next two, then was on the field for all 75 against the Steelers.

“That is the best part of coaching; it’s the best-case scenario,” McDaniel said. “That’s the most rewarding because that’s why it’s such a cool experience that you can viscerally feel from the rest of the locker room and all the players, because you recognize expectations and hardships and having to deal with the pressures that come with being a talented athlete and being young. Then to see people persevere through some hardship, that epitomizes everything that I got into coaching for. That’s like as good as it gets.

“I think Noah could feel it. I think the whole team — it just goes to show the type of locker room we have and how people are really rooting for each other and believe in each other, which is one of the reasons why we have so many guys stepping up because of injury. There’s a lot of belief in each other and people are bringing the best out of each other, which there’s nothing better than seeing that, really.”

This week’s injury and practice participation report indicates Igbinoghene and Xavier Howard could get some help on Sunday, when the Dolphins play the Detroit Lions. Despite being listed as questionable with a groin injury last week, Howard played every defensive snap, too. He’s back on the injury report with the same designation this week.

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Cornerbacks Keion Crossen and Kader Kohou were full participants in practice on Friday after missing the game against Pittsburgh with injuries. Kohou has started three games this season.

Byron Jones, who normally would be the cornerback starter with Howard, hasn’t played this season after offseason ankle surgery. Nik Needham replaced Jones in the lineup, but he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Neither will return in 2022.

“I was very happy for Noah,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said, “and I think he did a good job. He got his head around. He was able to get his feet down. Secured the catch. I think it’s one of those things where when you go through the game, there’s some good things that happen. There’s some things where you’re like, ‘OK, well, we can continue to work on this, and we can get better.’ And at the end of the day, when it’s the biggest play of the game, he’s able to make that.”

The Dolphins and Lions will square off at noon CDT Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.

Miami has a 4-3 record. The Lions own a 1-5 mark after losing their past four games.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.