PITTSBURGH — Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Week 5, but he immediately made his presence felt in his return against the Ravens on Sunday.
The second-year linebacker forced running back Derrick Henry to fumble for the first time in 538 touches on the opening series of the game.
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It was unknown if Herbig was fully healthy entering the contest, but he quickly proved any doubters, including a little bit of himself, wrong.
“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.”
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 needed Herbig to pick up where he left off with linebacker Alex Highsmith sidelined with a low ankle sprain, and that’s exactly what he did.
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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.”
It was far from a pretty win for the Steelers, but it was exactly the type of game they were expecting against the Ravens.
“They have a good defense, too,” Herbig said. “So it’s gonna be a battle of field position and turnovers, and that’s what we’re trying to win.”
Herbig will be relied upon once again in Week 12 when the Steelers go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns on “Thursday Night Football.”