Steelers DC Teryl Austin: OLB Nick Herbig ‘has earned the right to be on the field more’

Alex Highsmith, by all indications, is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineup this week. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Nick Herbig is headed back to the bench.

The Steelers’ No. 3 outside linebacker, Herbig has been making plays over these past 2½ games Highsmith has missed because of a high ankle sprain. And as such, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said the Steelers are going to continue to utilize him.

“He’s earned the right to be on the field as much as we can get him on the field,” Austin said before Thursday’s practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “And so as we move forward in this long season, he is going play a lot of snaps for us and play a lot of football. It’s my job to find ways to get him out there, to keep him on the field with what he’s done.”

Herbig missed the opener of his third NFL season when a hamstring injury prevented him from playing in the win at the New York Jets. But in the three games since, Herbig has 2½ sacks, eight QB hits, 10 total tackles (six solo, four for loss), an interception, a tipped pass and a forced fumble.

Herbig is formally behind Highsmith and perennial All Pro T.J. Watt on the Steelers’ depth chart at outside linebacker. Highsmith has not played since Week 2 but returned to practice this week and is likely to be available for Sunday’s AFC North opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Despite the likely cut into his playing time that Highsmith’s return will mean for him, Herbig is eager that his teammate appears to be cleared as healthy.

“Alex is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL,” Herbig said. “So being able to have that guy back and being healthy and running around, hitting the quarterback, setting the edge, doing what he does, I’m excited.”

Herbig has seven career starts in relief of either Watt or Highsmith and has eight career games in which he has played more than 54% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps.

“He’s a splash player,” Austin said. “He’s always around the ball. He makes it miserable on other teams’ offensive tackles. He’s playing well, and so guys who play well get rewarded by playing more.”