Nick Herbig has played two full games and most of a third as the Steelers' replacement at ROLB for Alex Highsmith.
In those 2.75 games, Herbig made 2.5 sacks, hit the quarterback 8 times, intercepted a pass, and forced a fumble.
Those are T.J. Watt-like numbers, evens 2 more QB hits than Watt's made in four full games.
Herbig is proving to be a true game-wrecker of a pass-rusher opposite Watt. Has that earned Herbig more playing time, even upon the return of Highsmith this week?
Yes, according to defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
"He's earned the right to be on the field as much as we can get him on the field," said Austin. "He's a splash player. He's always around the ball. He makes it miserable for offensive tackles. And he's playing well. So guys that play well get rewarded by playing more."
The Steelers prepare for the Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Max Hurleman (84), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (82), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (10) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams (85) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (82) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Matt Sokol (87) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) and Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Raheem Blackshear (29) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20), Pittsburgh Steelers running back Lew Nichols (35) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Trey Sermon (37) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31), Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back D'Shawn Jamison (38) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook (60) and Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Yahya Black (94) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Logan Lee (91) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Julius Welschof (45), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end DeMarvin Leal (98), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Sawyer (33), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jacoby Windmon (57) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jacoby Windmon (57) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
A general view during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end DeMarvin Leal (98) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jabrill Peppers (40) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)
It's not just the number of big plays, it's when they've occurred.
Against the Seahawks, Herbig intercepted a fourth-and-1 pass. Against the Patriots, Herbig strip-sacked Drake Maye in Steelers territory in the fourth quarter of a tie game. Against the Vikings, Herbig had a third-down sack and later forced an intentional grounding penalty that doused the final Vikings possession in a 3-point game.
Herbig is also the lightest of the four Steelers OLBs, and had been considered a pass-rush specialist.
Not anymore. Not after the Steelers held the Vikings to 70 yards rushing.
"He can set the edge," Austin said. "He's a powerful, explosive young man. He's a couple years in the NFL, so he understands it a little better, in terms of leverage and beating those guys. Sometimes you beat 'em to the punch in terms of setting edges and doing things like that, and he does a really good job. So, he's improved in that area. When we drafted him, we all thought that he'd be a designated pass-rusher, but he's developed into a guy that can play the run and be effective in the run game."
Another defender drafted out of the University of Wisconsin, nose tackle Keeanu Benton, turned heads with his performance against the Vikings. He hit QB Carson Wentz 3 times and of that produced 1.5 sacks.
Perhaps more importantly, Benton keyed a run defense that allowed season lows of 70 yards at 3.5 per carry.
"We've always seen he's had that ability to really be disruptive inside," Austin said. "But the thing he did was he really finished his plays and did it this week. That's one of the things I actually mentioned to him in the meeting. I said, 'Hey, man, start stacking those.' Because if he stacks some interior play like that, that makes us really, really difficult to defend."
A third "new" defensive player is represented in the return of Joey Porter Jr. from a hamstring injury that kept him out of all but 44 snaps of the opener this season.
"The biggest thing," Austin said about Porter, "is getting up to game speed and getting in a game and guys really moving at a fast pace. That's always been the thing. It always takes guys a series or two to kind of go, 'Oh, oh, here we go.'
"Because you practice hard, but it's not the same as a game. And so sometimes you see it might take them a series or two to kind of get themselves back in the game and get going. But if he's ready to go by the end of the week, and we feel he's ready to get out there, he'll be all right. It might take him a series or two to just kind of get the game speed down and he'll be ready."
The key for Austin's unit on Sunday is to make the Browns one-dimensional. That will require the Steelers to stop 221-pound rookie running back Quinshon Judkins. The second-round draft pick is ninth in the NFL with 347 rushing yards. He averages 4.8 yards per carry.
"What stands out is his contact balance and strength," Austin said. "I mean, he is a powerful guy. He'll run right through tackles and arm tackles, and he is not afraid to challenge guys. If you're coming at him, you better put your big boy pads on because if not he's gonna run right through you. And if you're messing around, he'll run right around you. That's what really stands out. You look at him, the combination of his power, his ability to get out there, and he does have good vision. You watch him, he finds these holes and he gets through them, and then he gets through them in a hurry."
Gainwell also starring in reserve role
Kenneth Gainwell, like the aforementioned Herbig, replaced a starter last week and became one of the centerpieces of his unit.
In place of injured running back Jaylen Warren, Gainwell rushed for a career-best and Steelers season-high 99 yards, at 5.2 yards per carry. He also added 35 yards on 6 receptions, and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Might Gainwell see more playing time even with Warren returning?
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wasn't clear with his answer.
"We've used some packages where him and Jaylen are both out there," Smith said. "They're both unique players. They're not, in my opinion, traditional running backs. Jaylen is a very unique guy. Just his yards after contact, that's an interesting stat. ... Guys bounce off him. He's got a feel, a guy who can take a checkdown or a schemed-up bubble screen and go 60. That's unique in space. Or Kenny in space. He's just a unique athlete. At that position, there's been a run of guys out of Memphis that have been backs and wideouts. He's one of them.
"When you get injuries, sometimes you're limited with what you got. Sometimes it's one for one, but then you can get into some of the two backs. Again, because (Gainwell) can do it, he's a legitimate threat at wideout. Gives you flexibility. You try to get the ball in your productive players' hands."
