Steelers Put C/G Nate Herbig on IR, Likely Ending 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed center/guard Nate Herbig on the injured reserve list, likely ending his 2024 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers C/G Nate Herbig
Pittsburgh Steelers center Nate Herbig during a preseason game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 10, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed center/guard Nate Herbig on the injured reserve list, likely ending his 2024 season with the club.

Herbig suffered a torn rotator cuff during the final day of Steelers training camp practice at St. Vincent College last Wednesday, and has not practiced since. Head coach Mike Tomlin said after Herbig missed Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he was seeking a second opinion.

If rotator cuff injuries require surgery, they take an average of 28 weeks to recover from, according to a 2023 study. That would take Herbig to mid-February, well beyond the end of the 2024 season. Because he was placed on injured reserve before the cut-down date from 90 to 53 players, Herbig cannot return to the Steelers from the injured reserve this season.

If Herbig does not require surgery, the timeframe for recovery could be closer to 10 weeks. The Steelers could reach an injury settlement to waive him from the injured reserve list in that circumstance. Herbig would then be free to sign with another team after the end of the settlement period. Herbig is in the final season of a two-year, $8 million contract with the Steelers and is currently set to become a free agent in March.

Pittsburgh Steelers C Zach Frazier Nate Herbig

With Herbig out, the Steelers will turn to second-round rookie Zach Frazier out of West Virginia to be their starting center. They may need to make an addition to find a backup, though guards Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick have worked sparingly at the position in the past. Ryan McCollum is a longtime member of the Steelers practice squad, and also could be an option.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date  Prognosis Roster Status
OT Dylan Cook Left foot/ankle Aug. 17 TBD Active
LB Tyler Matakevich Left Ankle Aug. 17 TBD Active
LB Payton Wilson Concussion Aug. 17 TBD Active
RB Jaylen Warren Hamstring Aug. 17 Multiple weeks Active
CB Beanie Bishop Undisclosed Aug. 15 TBD Active
C/G Nate Herbig Torn rotator cuff Aug. 14 Season-ending Injured reserve
RB Jonathan Ward Hamstring Aug. 14 TBD Active
DB Grayland Arnold Calf Aug. 14 TBD Injured reserve
OT Troy Fautanu Left MCL sprain Aug. 9 One week Active
OLB Alex Highsmith Groin Aug. 6 TBD Active
OLB David Perales Torn left MCL July 31 Months Injured reserve 
WR Roman Wilson Left ankle sprain July 30 Week-to-week Active
ILB Cole Holcomb Left knee Nov. 2, 2023 TBD Physically unable to perform

 

Mentioned In This Article: