PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It sounded like a blockbuster movie line when Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig was asked on Wednesday if he is ready for a bigger role if needed against Indianapolis.
"I was born ready," Herbig said.
Whether they will need him in a bigger role is at question right now. TJ Watt returned to a full practice on Wednesday and is now out of concussion protocol. Alex Highsmith has been limited the last two days. Each are going through reps, but Highsmith remains in protocol and those injuries can be tricky from one day to the next.
Herbig has played mostly special teams so far in his rookie season, only once did he play more than a quarter of the defensive snaps in a game and that was against the Patriots last Thursday. He had a career-high seven tackles, including a tackle for loss in 45 snaps.
"My role is really special teams right now and obviously in situations like last game where Alex and TJ both go down," Herbig said Wednesday. "Those are moments where I have to step up and be prepared for and I prep for that every week, for situations like that. I'm grateful to have guys in the room like them and Coach Denzel to make sure I'm ready to go."
"I think he had to take on a pretty large role last week in addition to his special teams duties," said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "I thought he did a good job in that regard."
Herbig said the mindset is to prepare every week like you are the starter and then he will be prepared when that opportunity arises. Ten years his senior, Markus Golden has started 68 games in the NFL and has three, double-digit sack seasons on his resume. He didn't dress for the game against New England because, as Austin confirmed, they needed that spot for a linebacker who can play special teams.
Golden said it is just part of the game and he's come ready to work this week. He's not preparing any differently against the Colts than he did since signing here earlier this year. Austin said Golden is a good football player.
"I think that will give us some depth there (if one or both of the starters can't play)," Austin said. "I think that's one area where we improved our depth last year and I think that will help us if we do end up with some injuries or some lack of availability with Alex or TJ."
"You got to flush it and be ready to compete," Golden said of last week. "The good thing about it you got four games left and if you win those games, at the end of it you'll be able to look back and know you've got a shot."
The Steelers are proud of how they shored up a weakness from previous seasons, it may get tested on Saturday. Herbig and Golden say they are ready.
