3 Steelers players poised for bigger roles in the season's final stretch

3. Nate Herbig should be playing over Mason Cole

Speaking of Herbig's, Nick isn't the only player who knows how to make his presence felt in limited usage. His big brother Nate entered the game in Week 13 for the injured Isaac Seumalo and recorded 31 snaps. In roughly half a game, Herbig earned the highest overall grade on the team of 91.8, according to Pro Football Focus.

Apart from a pair of starts due to injuries in Weeks 4 and 5, this was the only other game action Herbig has seen on offense in 2023. Herbig is a guard by trade, but he does have experience at center. With how badly Mason Cole has struggled, why haven't the Steelers given the 330-pounder a look at the position yet?

What's the worst that can happen? Cole is grading out as one of the worst centers in the NFL this year, and the tape backs up his cringeworthy PFF grade. Meanwhile, Herbig is a player who was liked on both the Eagles and Jets before coming to the Steelers.

Herbig might be nothing more than a quality backup, but the Steelers aren't going to know what they have in him unless they insert him into the lineup down the stretch. At the very least, it would give Pittsburgh a great idea of how hard they would need to go after a center during the 2024 offseason. It's a small sample, but I think Nate Herbig has earned a look with the starting offensive line.