NICK HERBIG
Outside Linebacker
Blink and you might have missed it.
Nick Herbig wasn't on the field for very long in the 24-17 loss in the preseason finale against Detroit on Saturday at Ford Field, but there's no denying he was noticed when he was. Even though Coach Mike Tomlin kept both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the sideline vs. the Lions, Herbig played fewer than a dozen defensive snaps, but he finished the game with 3 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble that was recovered by DE Dean Lowery.
During 3 successive plays early in the game, Herbig sacked QB Herndon Hooker for a 5-yard loss on first down; on second down he was part of a wave of pressure coming at Herndon that resulted in Keeanu Benton and DeMarvin Leal sharing a sack; and then on third down he executed a strip-sack to put the Steelers offense back onto the field at the Lions 35-yard line. Six plays later, their 7-0 lead had become 14-0.
Herbig is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were OLB Julius Welschof, who had 2 sacks; DB Cam Sutton, who had an interception; ILB Mark Robinson, who tied for the team lead with 8 tackles and had a hit on the quarterback; RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who had 3 carries for 31 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run that was the Steelers first touchdown of the game; WR Dez Fitzpatrick, who had 2 catches for 64 yards plus a tackle on special teams; and punter Cameron Johnston, who punted 5 times for a 45.8 average with 3 of those 5 inside the 20-yard line.
