The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of their more important young defenders back in the building for the start of mandatory minicamp, and that should calm down part of the conversation surrounding Nick Herbig.
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Mike McCarthy speaks during his introductory press conference with the Steelers.
Herbig missed Organized Team Activities (OTAs) because of what Mike McCarthy called a “business situation,” which points directly to his contract situation. That naturally created some questions. Herbig is young, productive, and part of a 2023 NFL Draft class that includes several players who could eventually need new deals. When a player like that is away from voluntary work, people are going to notice. However, mandatory minicamp is different.
Herbig showed up when the work became required, and that matters. It does not mean the contract situation is finished. It does not mean everything is solved. It does mean the Steelers can shift the focus back to football, and that might be the most important development right now. McCarthy made it clear that Herbig has not been disconnected from the team.
“Nick’s been in constant communication with us,” McCarthy said via 93.7 The Fan. “Had lunch with Nick in March up there in Scottsdale. He’s done the things necessary, but he’s in a business situation... This is an important time in their lives. Their business decisions and business opportunities can change the course of their lives and their families. I don’t take that for granted.”
That quote is important because McCarthy did not sound irritated with Herbig. He sounded understanding. That matters for a new head coach trying to build trust with his roster.
The Steelers are not just changing a few small things this offseason. They have a new head coach, a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham, and a new defensive structure that players are still learning. Missing OTAs is not ideal for any player in that situation, especially one who could have an important role in the pass rush.
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Patrick Graham walks the field during warmups before a Raiders game against the Chargers.
Still, McCarthy’s comments suggest Herbig has done enough behind the scenes to keep himself from falling too far behind. The lunch in Scottsdale matters because it shows there was already some relationship-building before minicamp started. Herbig was not walking into the building as a stranger to the new head coach. That does not erase the work he still has to do. The Steelers need Herbig to be more than just present. They need him to be comfortable.
That is where minicamp becomes important. Herbig has already shown he can affect games as a pass rusher. He brings energy, burst, and production off the edge. The Steelers have TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith leading the outside linebacker room, but Herbig gives them another real piece who can make the pass rush deeper and more dangerous. That only works if he knows exactly how he fits.
Graham’s defense will likely ask players to handle different responsibilities. The Steelers want to have versatility. That means edge rushers may not always be doing the same thing snap after snap. Some plays could ask Herbig to rush, while others may ask him to drop, communicate, or fit into a different package. McCarthy seemed to understand that getting Herbig involved quickly will be important.
“It’s great to have Nick here,” McCarthy said via The Trib’s Chris Adamski. “Nick’s excited about being here. We’ll definitely highlight the packages for Nick this week and next week.”
That is the football part of the story. The contract situation may explain why Herbig missed OTAs, but McCarthy’s answer shows the Steelers are already moving into the next phase. They are not just happy he showed up. They are going to make sure he gets specific work in the packages that matter for him. That should be encouraging for Pittsburgh.
Herbig does not need to become a full-time starter overnight to be valuable. His role can still be important even if Watt and Highsmith are ahead of him. Good defenses need depth on the edge, and the Steelers have seen how quickly one injury can change the entire pass-rush rotation.
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TJ Watt warms up before a Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium.
That is why this minicamp stretch matters so much. If Herbig gets comfortable in Graham’s defense now, the Steelers can use training camp to sharpen his role instead of starting from scratch. They can figure out how he fits with Watt, Highsmith, and the rest of the front. They can see which packages make the most sense for him. The coaching staff can decide whether he is just a rotational rusher or someone who deserves a more creative role.
The contract conversation is not going away. Herbig has done enough early in his career to make his future worth discussing. The Steelers have to balance his value with the money already invested at outside linebacker, and that could make the situation complicated. For now, though, the most important thing is that Herbig is back, and that he has communicated with McCarthy.
He showed up for mandatory minicamp. He is expected to have packages highlighted for him over the next couple of weeks. That is a much better place for the Steelers to be in than wondering whether his absence would become a bigger problem. The business side still matters, but Herbig’s football path is back in motion. Now the Steelers have to get him caught up and see how much damage he can do in Graham’s defense.
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