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

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.

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