The Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 bye is a calm before the storm. The team will begin an incredibly difficult stretch in Week 10 against the 7-2 Washington Commanders. The good news is that the Steelers got healthy during their bye week and should head into the brutal second half of the season with the depth necessary to contend in the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers Watching Nick Herbig Closely
Ever since becoming Pittsburgh’s fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nick Herbig has hit the ground running in every sense. Whether in a video showing an emotionally charged Herbig getting drafted by the Steelers or his ability to make the most of a small number of opportunities, the linebacker has been a fan favorite. TJ Watt played 931 defensive snaps in 2023, and Herbig played 191, but it isn’t the quantity that matters to the shifty pass rusher; it’s quality. He had three sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 27 total tackles despite not starting a game in the 2023 season.
In 2024, Herbig has continued that pace, tallying 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 142 defensive snaps. However, he has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. With extra recovery time thanks to the bye, Herbig is eying the Week 10 game against the Commanders as his return date. How the outside linebacker practices starting on Monday will determine if that is realistic, but for now, both Herbig and the Pittsburgh Steelers are eager to get him back on the field as soon as possible.
Herbig Ready To Rejoin Revolving Door
Watt is an otherworldly talent who can turn games around with a single play, but there is no doubt that Alex Highsmith’s rise and the addition of Herbig have only helped the former Defensive Player of the Year. The Pittsburgh Steelers locked up Highsmith with a four-year, $68-million extension during the 2023 offseason, and that kind of money raises expectations. However, Herbig’s immediate impact was an unexpected boost to a defense that already boasted two top-tier pass rushers.
Watt and Highsmith have led the Pittsburgh Steelers to three wins since Herbig’s hamstring injury, so a healthy trio will only increase what the NFL’s highest-paid defense is capable of. Heading into the 2024 season, there was considerable excitement over what Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig’s pass-rush revolving door could produce for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The three defenders have collected 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 17 tackles for loss. If Herbig can return against Washington, the defense will get an immediate shot in the arm right when the team needs it the most.
Zach Frazier Is Getting Healthy
Injuries to the offensive line have been one of the more frustrating storylines for the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers. Nate Herbig, Troy Fautanu, and James Daniels are all out for the season, and a slew of other injuries have forced the Pittsburgh Steelers to call upon practically every single depth piece available. Frazier’s ankle injury looked much worse than it was when he left the Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, so the prospect of getting the standout rookie center back after only two games is already positive news. As with Herbig, how Frazier looks during the week will be crucial to his status on Sunday against Washington.
With the 2024 second-round pick rehabbing his ankle for two games, Ryan McCollum has performed admirably in his place. Considering how many injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with on the offensive line, steadily relying on those depth players in the trenches has been an important reason the team is 6-2. The tackles have been the weak links on the offensive line in 2024. The interior has been stellar and Frazier’s relentless motor represents the grit and effort that Omar Khan and Andy Weidl wanted to bring to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the front office.
Frazier’s Return Boosts Running Game
If Frazier rejoins the offensive line against the Commanders in Week 10, he will be tasked with continuing the kind of rushing success that Pittsburgh has had in the last three outings. Najee Harris is having the best start to a season of his career, tallying 322 of his 592 rushing yards since Week 6. Not only has the former Alabama running back had three consecutive 100-yard games on the ground for the first time in his NFL career, but he is also having fun doing so.
There is no downside to having Frazier back in the lineup, even though McCollum has turned in three solid games in his absence. There is just something different about Frazier, and the wrestling mentality he brings to his game has him bullying defenders consistently. If the Pittsburgh Steelers want to keep the three-game winning streak going as the team heads into a very challenging second half of the 2024 campaign, the running game will play a massive part in that kind of success. Having a healthy Frazier means more room for Harris and Jaylen Warren to do their thing, which has worked out well so far.
Final Thoughts
The week leading up to Pittsburgh’s Week 10 matchup against the Commanders will be one of the more critical stretches of practice regarding the team’s injuries this season. Herbig and Frazier will be under a microscope to ensure their respective health is appropriately balanced against what the team needs on the field. If, for any reason, either player has a setback, depth has played a significant role in Pittsburgh’s success in the first half of the season, but the hope is for both to enter Week 10 healthy and ready to keep that winning streak going.
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