NICK HERBIG
Outside Linebacker
For a brief time this summer, it seemed as though the Steelers were going to be set at outside linebacker for the 2024 season, what with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith as the starters and Nick Herbig and Markus Golden as the primary backups. But then Golden abruptly announced his retirement, and the depth at the position became a question.
In the second game of the preseason, neither Watt nor Highsmith played against Buffalo, and while there still may have been some doubts about the overall depth at the position, the Steelers also got a good look at what they have in Herbig.
In a 9-3 Loss to the Bills, Herbig played less than a half at right outside linebacker, and he finished with 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and he was in on 2 tackles on special teams. Herbig is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were safety Miles Killebrew, whose interception was the Steelers' lone takeaway, and he added a special teams tackle; punter Cameron Johnston, who averaged 56.8 yards on 5 punts, with 2 inside the 20-yard line; Justin Fields, who completed 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) for 92 yards, with no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 78.6, while also rushing for 42 yards on 8 carries (5.3 average); WR Dez Fitzpatrick, who had 2 catches for 32 yards, including a great grab along the left sideline for 19 yards on a pass from Fields, and added a tackle on special teams; and OLB Julius Welschof, whose fourth quarter sack may have helped him in the competition for a backup spot at outside linebacker.
