The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into Week 16 with their pass rush hanging by a thread - and that’s not an exaggeration. With a critical road matchup looming against the high-powered Detroit Lions, Mike Tomlin’s defense could be without two of its most important edge defenders. And in a season where every game feels like a must-win, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Let’s start with the biggest name: T.J. Watt.
The reigning heart and soul of Pittsburgh’s pass rush missed Monday night’s win over the Dolphins after suffering a collapsed lung - an injury that reportedly occurred during a dry-needling session at the team facility. It’s a bizarre and unfortunate setback, one that required surgery and has left Watt’s immediate future up in the air.
Tomlin hasn’t offered a timetable for his return, and with just three weeks left in the regular season, every day he misses feels heavier.
But Watt’s absence is only half the problem.
During that same Monday night game, Nick Herbig - who’s been a sparkplug in his own right - went down with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by rookie Jack Sawyer, and early-week practices haven’t brought much optimism. Herbig’s been sidelined, and the team’s latest roster move strongly suggests he may not be ready to go this weekend either.
In response, the Steelers have turned to a familiar name: Jeremiah Moon. Pittsburgh is signing the outside linebacker off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, a move first reported Wednesday and confirmed Thursday morning. Moon isn’t new to the black and gold - he spent time with the Steelers last season after appearing in eight games with the Ravens in 2023.
Still, let’s be honest - Moon’s 2024 campaign didn’t exactly move the needle. Despite logging over 100 defensive snaps and more than 200 on special teams, he finished the year with just nine total tackles.
No sacks. No tackles for loss.
He knows the system, sure, but he’s not exactly the cavalry riding in to save the day.
So where does that leave Pittsburgh’s edge group heading into Detroit? If Watt and Herbig are both out, the Steelers will likely roll with Alex Highsmith, Jack Sawyer, DeMarvin Leal, and the newly added Moon.
Of that group, Highsmith is the only proven pass rusher - a relentless presence off the edge who’s capable of wrecking a game plan. But he can’t do it alone.
Sawyer has shown flashes in limited action, but like most rookies, consistency has been elusive. Leal, while versatile, hasn’t made a significant impact as a pass rusher. And Moon, as mentioned, is more of a depth piece than a difference-maker.
The numbers tell the story: Sawyer, Leal, and Moon have combined for just one sack across eight NFL seasons. That’s not exactly a fearsome trio to throw at one of the league’s better offenses.
This is not where the Steelers wanted to be in Week 16 - scrambling to patch together a pass rush ahead of a pivotal game with playoff implications. But this is the hand they’ve been dealt. And unless Watt or Herbig can make a surprise return, Pittsburgh’s going to need a near-perfect effort from its remaining edge defenders - and probably a little help from the scheme - to generate pressure and keep Detroit’s offense in check.
For now, the Steelers are leaning on grit, depth, and the hope that their stars can heal up in time to make one more push.