Next Man Up: Rookie Jack Sawyer Ready for Bigger Role in Steelers Defense
PITTSBURGH - With T.J. Watt dealing with a lung injury and Nick Herbig nursing a hamstring, the Steelers are staring down the very real possibility of entering Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions without two of their top outside linebackers. That means it’s next man up - and that man looks to be rookie Jack Sawyer.
Sawyer, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound edge rusher out of Ohio State, has been waiting for this kind of moment all season. And judging by his mindset, he’s not just ready - he’s eager.
“I’m ready,” Sawyer said Thursday. “I’m going day by day, trying to get better and get myself ready for anything, just trying to grow as a player, gain knowledge, and be ready for whatever opportunity lies in front of me.”
This isn’t just any opportunity. It’s December football - when games get heavier, stakes get higher, and playoff pictures start to take shape. And Sawyer knows exactly what’s on the line.
“This is what you live for. This is what you play the game for,” he said.
“Being later in the year, the games get heightened. That’s what you play this game for.
It’s exciting and it’s a great opportunity for us.”
The Steelers have been impressed with Sawyer’s growth throughout the season, and head coach Mike Tomlin made that clear in his weekly press conference. Tomlin has seen enough from the rookie to believe he’s more than capable of handling an expanded role - especially after flashing on special teams and in limited defensive snaps.
“Jack is doing what a lot of young, quality defenders do: they make the best of what you ask them to do,” Tomlin said. “He’s made some plays on teams. He had a sack, he had an interception - so I wouldn’t be surprised if he displays that readiness if he gets an expanded role opportunity this week.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s seen his fair share of young defenders either rise to the occasion or get swallowed by the moment. But Tomlin isn’t the only one who’s seen Sawyer’s steady climb.
Veteran defensive tackle and team captain Cam Heyward has had a front-row seat to Sawyer’s development - and he likes what he sees.
“Jack is getting better every week,” Heyward said. “For a rookie to be playing this year, he and Derrick [Harmon] and Yahya, they’ve contributed a lot to our group.
They just have to keep taking steps. The more you get in these situations, the more you get counted on.
Jack is no different. Jack is going to have to step up this week.
We believe he can do that.”
That belief will be tested against a Detroit offense that thrives on physicality and balance. The Lions’ backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery brings a mix of speed and power that can wear down the edge if not properly contained. That’s where Sawyer’s skill set becomes especially valuable.
He’s not just a pass rusher - he’s a run-stopper with the kind of physical presence that can anchor the edge. And that’s exactly what Pittsburgh needs right now.
“It kind of reminds me of when we had Bud [Dupree] as a big, 265-pound guy,” said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “Jack is that way.
It was all new for him because he was a defensive end in college. All this stuff is new, but I think it helps us because he can be a little heavier anchor for us to set the edge.
Sometimes on the edge, guys will use their quickness to move around. This guy can actually sit down and set an edge.
He’s making the transition well.”
Austin pointed to Sawyer’s consistency and preparation as reasons to trust him in a bigger role. Even back in college, Sawyer had a knack for showing up when it mattered most.
“The one thing I always liked when I watched Jack in college was when it was tough and they needed a big play, he was the guy who was always around,” Austin said. “He’s not afraid of those moments. I think he’ll be able to step up and give us what we need in an expanded role again this week.”
The Steelers are used to leaning on their stars - Watt, Heyward, Fitzpatrick - but this week, they may need a rookie to carry more than just his weight. Jack Sawyer isn’t just filling in.
He’s stepping into a moment he’s been preparing for all season. And if his teammates and coaches are right, he just might be ready to make it count.