The Pittsburgh Steelers will be down two key edge rushers when they take the field Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who had expressed optimism earlier in the week about suiting up, has officially been ruled out with a hamstring injury. The rookie didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and was only a limited participant Friday, making the team’s decision to downgrade him from doubtful to out unsurprising.
Herbig suffered the injury during Monday night’s win over the Miami Dolphins, a game that saw the Steelers defense come up big in key moments. But now, with Herbig joining All-Pro T.J. Watt (lung) on the inactive list, Pittsburgh is suddenly thin at one of its most important positions.
That means rookie Jack Sawyer is in line to make his first career start at outside linebacker. It’s a big moment for the young pass rusher, who’ll be thrown into the fire against a Detroit offense that’s been one of the more balanced units in the league this season. Behind Sawyer, the Steelers will lean on recently re-acquired Jeremiah Moon and practice squad call-up DeMarvin Leal to provide depth off the edge.
This isn’t an ideal scenario for a defense that thrives on pressure from its outside linebackers. Watt’s absence alone is a massive loss - he’s the engine of the Steelers pass rush and a tone-setter for the entire unit.
Herbig, while still developing, had been carving out a valuable rotational role, bringing energy and burst in limited snaps. Without both, Pittsburgh will need to get creative with its pressure packages and hope its young players can step up.
The Week 16 injury report paints a picture of a team that’s banged up but still fighting. Defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (ankle), long snapper Christian Kuntz (knee), and safety Jabrill Peppers (illness) are all expected to play after managing their respective issues during the week. Center Zach Frazier (triceps) and offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) also appear on track to suit up, though both were limited at times.
On the flip side, left guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) have been ruled out, further testing the Steelers’ depth on both sides of the ball. The offensive line, already without starters Broderick Jones and Max Scharping due to injuries, will now have to shuffle again - a challenge against a Detroit front that can bring heat.
The Steelers’ injured reserve list remains long, including starters and key contributors like DeShon Elliott, Dean Lowry, and Isaiahh Loudermilk. It’s a war of attrition at this point in the season, and Pittsburgh is feeling the effects.
Still, Sunday’s matchup in Detroit is a critical one. The Steelers are in the thick of the playoff race, and while the absences of Watt and Herbig are significant, this is the kind of game where depth, coaching, and resilience come into play. If Sawyer can hold his own and the defense finds a way to generate pressure without its stars, Pittsburgh has a shot to keep its postseason hopes alive.