The Pittsburgh Steelers defense didn’t live up to expectations in its 2025 debut. Although the biggest names were healthy and available, injuries played a role in the performance.
First-round rookie Derrick Harmon missed the game with a knee injury, edge rusher Nick Herbig also missed with a hamstring injury, and strong safety DeShone Elliott and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. were also knocked out of the game. There’s a chance Harmon makes his Steelers debut this week, but Porter and Elliott aren’t expected to suit up.
As for Herbig, it appears Pittsburgh is set to get one of its best depth pieces back in uniform.
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Herbig was limited on Wednesday, but logged a full practice on Thursday. On Friday, Herbig told reporters, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, that he’s “very optimistic” he’ll be ready to go for the home opener this Sunday.
Pittsburgh could certainly use Herbig back in the rotation on the edge. Rookie Jack Sawyer had a tough outing in his debut, rotating in for T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. He offered little support against the Jets' rushing attack, which racked up 182 yards, and he didn’t give much more in getting after Justin Fields either.
While the fault for the Jets' surprising offensive showing doesn’t rest solely on Sawyer, having Herbig back will certainly provide more comfort on the edge of Pittsburgh’s defense.
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Of course, Herbig’s skillset isn’t going to solve the issues defending the run either. Herbig is known for his speed in rushing the passer, not necessarily for stopping the run. Still, he’s entering his third year and has shown consistent growth, even above expectations, each year. After all, his hamstring injury came during the final preseason game chasing down a sack early in the contest.
In two seasons, Herbig has 8.5 sacks and forced six fumbles. If he can play in the game, he’ll be expected to rotate in on passing downs to put pressure on Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks’ suspect passing game. Darnold was sacked just once in the season opener, but he was pressured on 24% of his drop-backs.