Steelers Now
DETROIT — With Nick Herbig sidelined with a hamstring injury, rookie fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer made his first start for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they took on the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Sawyer lined up opposite fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith as the Steelers’ defense tried to stop Jard Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and the rest of the hosts’ powerful offense. The Lions’ attack ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards per game (379.9) entering Week 16.
Sawyer is familiar with Michigan, having starred for the hated Ohio State Buckeyes for four seasons before being selected with the No. 123 overall choice in the 2025 NFL Draft. Including the clash with the Lions, Sawyer has played in all 15 of the Steelers’ regular-season games.
Entering Sunday, Sawyer had racked up 26 combined tackles, a sack, an interception and three passes defended.
According to 247Sports, Sawyer was the highest-rated recruit in Ohio State’s 2021 class. He played in 55 games for the Buckeyes, making a massive impact during his team’s College Football Playoff national title run last season. He was asked on Thursday before practice if there was any added motivation playing in the Great Lakes State.
“I’m just getting ready for a game against a good opponent — good offensive line, good quarterback, playmakers all over the field,” Sawyer said. “Just preparing every day like I would normally.”
The Steelers were also missing T.J. Watt for the second week in a row after he underwent surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung suffered while getting treatment at the team facility.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Jack Sawyer Makes First Steelers Start vs. Lions
