First Call: Steelers DC Teryl Austin discusses Nick Herbig's low snap count vs. Bengals; Lamar Jackson health update

In Friday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin discusses the lack of snaps for Nick Herbig last week.

The Baltimore Ravens await clarity on Lamar Jackson’s status. The Penguins get back into divisional play Saturday.

And there is an interesting family tie for Robert Morris hockey this weekend.

Hoping for more Herbig

Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin says the team will “have to explore” getting back to more reps for outside linebacker Nick Herbig.

He blamed game flow and a lack of pure passing situations against the Cincinnati Bengals for Herbig’s limited participation during Thursday night’s 33-31 loss.

Mike Tomlin said the same thing, pointing out Cincy’s surprising success running the football (142 yards). Yet the Bengals also threw 47 times.

“We thought we would — in that regard — have more situational things for (Herbig) to really rush and get after the passer,” Austin said Thursday. “We do have to explore getting him in there more. That’s just sometimes what happens during the course of the game. You kind of get thrown (for) a loop as you work through and work to the game. Our biggest emphasis on game day is trying to win the game. Not determining how many plays a guy plays. We’ll go back and look at it and see if, next time, maybe (we’ll) do a better job of that.”

Herbig had just two tackles against the Bengals. He played a season-low 38% of the defensive snaps. The Wisconsin product leads the team with 4.5 sacks.

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Looking for Lamar

The Baltimore Ravens (1-5) are still waiting to find out if they will have Lamar Jackson at quarterback this weekend. They play at home against Chicago (4-2) on Sunday.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports that Jackson practiced for the second straight day on Thursday, although he was limited.

For Ravens injury report Thursday ...

-QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring) was limited for a 2nd straight day

-WR DeAndre Hopkins (illness) was the only player who missed practice

-CB Marlon Humphrey (illness) returned to have a full practice

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 23, 2025

The two-time MVP quarterback has missed the past two games thanks to a hamstring injury suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Baltimore has gone 0-2, scoring only one touchdown since Jackson has been out. Cooper Rush has been at the helm. He has thrown four interceptions in two starts and was benched for Tyler Huntley in Week 6.

Hoping to stay hot

The Penguins (6-2) aim to extend a four-game win streak against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Thursday night, they won 5-3 in Florida behind two goals and an assist from Sidney Crosby.

Tic, tac, toe.

That's another power-play goal! pic.twitter.com/BsH4RFATfT

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 24, 2025

Columbus (3-3) has won two in a row as well. The team has played an NHL-low six games so far. Kirill Marchenko is off to a good start. He’s got five goals and two assists to begin the year, posting a hat trick Oct. 11.

Kirill Marchenko completes the hatty in fashion! ????

His shot is honestly ridiculous. #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/TKINhfZsM8

— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2025

Before the game, the team is inducting Kevin Stevens, Eddie Johnston, Ron Francis and Scotty Bowman into the franchise’s Hall of Fame.

The Metropolitan Division rivals face each other again on Nov. 28 in Ohio.

Family connection

There will be an interesting subplot for Robert Morris hockey this weekend.

After dropping its opening series at No. 3 Michigan, the men’s team (0-2) is on the road playing Notre Dame (2-2).

The women’s team (3-5) is at Delaware (1-7). It’s the first-ever meeting between the schools, as the Blue Hens are in their inaugural season of Atlantic Hockey play.

While men’s head coach Derek Schooley will be watching his Colonials battle the Fighting Irish in South Bend, his two daughters will be squaring off against each other at Fred Rust Ice Arena.

Schooley’s older daughter, Kaitlyn, plays for RMU. She is a junior. Her sister, Taylor, is a freshman at Delaware.

As for fifth-ranked Penn State, the Nittany Lions men’s team is hosting Stonehill this weekend. The women’s team is squaring off against Lindenwood.

LISTEN: “Breakfast With Benz” Fantasy Sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of RotoWire.