Explosive Steelers Rookie OLB Continues to Impress

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Steelers have an impressive rookie draft class to this point in the season. They have seen significant contributions from Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington, Keeanu Benton, and others. However, one player who has not made their splash play just yet despite a fantastic preseason is Nick Herbig. That was until Sunday against the Rams, when Herbig registered his first career sack against veteran Rob Havenstein.

First career sack 🙌 @nickherbig_

📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSng3KS pic.twitter.com/LuJGqY5h15

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 22, 2023

After the sack, Nick Herbig was mobbed by his teammates, who celebrated with him. But those pass-rush chops did not go anywhere, and the Steelers are seeing the fruits of Herbig’s growth. Their outside linebacker rotation of Watt, Highsmith, Herbig, and Markus Golden has paid massive dividends for the defense. They have kept the top guys of that rotation fresher, allowing them to show out. And those veterans make Herbig better, so he took one of Highsmith’s moves.

“I did the Alex Highsmith,” Herbig said. “That’s something he does a lot. The speed rush around the edge, the chop away of the hands, and the bend. I learned it all from him.”

Highsmith relented on that and said that was Herbig’s move. But Herbig is right that Highsmith loves to use that move and did it multiple times. He did not get any sacks but affected Matthew Stafford all game. But it’s a credit to Herbig that he has soaked up what the veterans give him and applies it to the game.

“I’m so proud of him,” Highsmith said. “He just asks questions all the time and learns from all of us in that room. We even learn from him. It’s great to see him go out there and get his first career sack.”

All veterans love Herbig’s willingness to embrace the knowledge around him. Not all rookies are willing to go up to veterans and ask anything of anyone. But Golden says it’s hard to shake Herbig as a veteran because “you can bet the kid will ask you questions” both on the field and in the film room. That’s the right mentality for someone hoping to impact his rookie season significantly. Now, it is starting to showcase itself on the field. Herbig should be a critical piece of the future.