PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers second-year outside linebacker Nick Herbig had a banner day in Sunday’s 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens. He simply was all over the field. He blew up the Ravens’ potential game-tying 2-point attempt on Lamar Jackson, forced a fumble on Derrick Henry on the first drive of the game and recorded a team-high five pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
Herbig had been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Week 5, but he immediately made his presence felt in his return against the Ravens on Sunday. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was not surprised by Herbig’s instant impact.
“He’s a big-time player, man,” Tomlin said of Herbig during his Monday press conference. “He’s a young guy, but even in a small sample size, I think we all recognize his play-making capabilities and I think any of us that are around him are not surprised when he makes significant plays, particularly in significant moments, man. He’s got some real role models, and he’s got an awesome work ethic and mindset to boot and so I’m not surprised by it at all.”
All-Pro running back Derrick Henry rarely fumbles. It was his first fumble in 538 touches. Herbig set the tone for the defense with the force fumble.
“After that second play, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m back,’” Herbig said. “It felt good to be back out there with my guys man. That’s all I can ask for.”
While Herbig’s forced fumble didn’t result in a touchdown for the Steelers, their offense was still able to muster an important field goal in what ended up being a two point game.
“Gotta get the ball out, especially against a guy like Lamar (Jackson) and Derrick Henry in that offense,” Herbig said. “They’re so potent, so you gotta get the ball off them any way you can.”
Herbig kept the ball from his forced fumble on Henry. He has no plans of getting it autographed like Beanie Bishop did with Aaron Rodgers, though.
“Nah. I’m not into not that cute stuff,” Herbig said with a smile.
Before Herbig suffered his hamstring injury, he looked like he was taking a second-year leap, recording a league-leading 3.5 sacks in this year’s preseason and eight tackles (six solo), 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through the first five weeks of the regular season.
The Steelers are absolutely loaded at outside linebacker with Watt, Highsmith, Herbig and Preston Smith. On any other team, Herbig would be a starter.
Alan Saunders and Aaron Becker provided reporting from Pittsburgh.