Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Just because Alex Highsmith is trending toward being back on Sunday doesn’t mean Nick Herbig will fall back into his shadow. Instead, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has the luxury of being able to work with three game-breaking edge-rushers.
It’s just a matter of ironing out a timeshare for the trio, which also includes four-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro T.J. Watt.
“He’s earned the right to be on the field as much as we can get him on the field,” Austin said of Herbig. “And so, as we get going in this season, a long season, he’s gonna play a lot of snaps for us and play a lot of football, and it’s my job to find ways to get him on there and keep him on the field. With what he’s done … he’s a splash player. He’s always around the ball.
“He makes it miserable for offensive tackles. He’s playing well. And so guys that play well get rewarded by playing more.”
While Highsmith has been out with a high ankle sprain, Herbig has registered an interception, 2.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits. A third-year player, he’s starting to make a name for himself as a well-rounded talent.
“Nick’s a good football player. That’s just what he is,” Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin said last week. “He can do everything. People like to think he’s just a pass guy, but if you watch the tape from this past week, he was run, pass, anything we need him to do, special teams. He just does it all.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Will Nick Herbig Head Back to Bench After Highsmith Return?
