Steelers' Mistake Evident As Mike Tomlin Ignored Young Defender's Success

Very little went right for the Pittsburgh Steelers on defense in their 33-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. The unit surrendered 470 total yards of offense, giving up 142 on the ground and 342 through the air to Joe Flacco. After showing noticeable improvement over the previous three games, the Steelers’ defense appeared to take a major step back on Thursday night. Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering how things unraveled so quickly. One possible explanation could be a key defensive player’s unexpected drop in playing time during the matchup in Cincinnati.

Nick Herbig has been one of Pittsburgh's best defensive players in 2025. In Weeks 3 through 6, Herbig compiled nine tackles, five and a half sacks, and a forced fumble. After Alex Highsmith went down with an ankle injury in their Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Herbig was forced to step into a larger role, and he took full advantage. 

Herbig proved to be a spark for the Steelers' defense, bringing relentless energy and pressure off the edge. His burst off the line and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield gave Pittsburgh’s front seven a much-needed jolt during a stretch when the unit was struggling to find consistency.

Against the Bengals, Herbig only played 29 snaps. Playing just 40% of the defensive snaps following a two-sack performance the week prior didn’t make much sense, and it was one of many questionable decisions by the coaching staff in Thursday’s loss. 

The Steelers’ pass rush, which had been one of their greatest strengths during their three-game winning streak, was non-existent for much of the night. Much of that was due to Flacco getting rid of the ball quickly, but Cincinnati’s offensive line handled the Steelers' front far too easily in the run game. It’s hard not to wonder whether Herbig’s reduced workload played a role in Pittsburgh's inability to get off the field on defense. 

Herbig’s limited usage also raises concerns about how the Steelers are deploying their young talent. The three-year man out of Wisconsin has shown he can make a real impact when given opportunities, and his production speaks for itself. If Pittsburgh hopes to rebound defensively moving forward, getting Herbig more involved should be a priority. 

With matchups against some of the league’s top offenses on the horizon, the Steelers can’t afford to keep one of their most explosive defenders on the sideline. Herbig’s energy, effort, and knack for making plays could be exactly what this defense needs to get back on track.

Steelers' Focus On Stopping The Run Had An Impact On Nick Herbig's Playing Time

The Steelers entered Thursday's game with the goal of stopping the Bengals' rushing attack, which frankly had not been much of an attack all season long. Despite Herbig's impressive play this season, the Steelers felt that Highsmith offered the best chance to stop the run. Although you can’t put all the blame on Highsmith, whatever Pittsburgh’s game plan was to stop Chase Brown and company didn’t work at all.

Brown rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries, averaging nearly ten yards a touch. Not only was it the first time Brown had rushed for 100 yards this season, it was the first time he had rushed for more than 50. The decision to give Highsmith more snaps than Herbig raised even more questions as the game went on. 

Highsmith struggled to set the edge and contain outside runs, while Herbig’s energy and quickness might have helped disrupt some of Cincinnati’s success on the ground. It’s easy to second guess after the fact, but given how things played out, the Steelers may regret not giving Herbig more snaps in such a crucial divisional matchup.

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