Outside linebacker Nick Herbig was status quo in regards to his participation at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday, keeping in question whether he will be available to play in the season opener Sunday.
Herbig was again listed as limited at practice Thursday, the same designation he had Wednesday on the first injury report of the season. Herbig suffered a hamstring injury during a preseason home game last month.
Friday, the Steelers will offer their official status report for Sunday’s opener at the New York Jets.
It was previously announced that rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon would miss some early-season games because of a knee injury suffered in the preseason finale at the Carolina Panthers.
Harrison on the edge?
While Herbig is a backup to the stellar Steelers starting OLB duo of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the team typically rotates heavily into the game to spell each. The Steelers like to use four outside linebackers if possible, so the loss of Herbig would mean more snaps for fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer in his NFL debut.
The Steelers have no true other outside linebacker on the active roster. Converted defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal and Germany native Julius Welschof are at the position on the practice squad, but an option to serve as OLB4 if Herbig can’t play is Malik Harrison.
Harrison typically reps more with the inside linebackers, and that’s where the majority of his pro experience comes from. But Harrison also has the position flexibility to play on the edge. He said he regularly takes practice reps and will do drills associated with outside linebacker.
“I do both (positions), so yeah, I’m comfortable with both,” Harrison said after practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Going back to high school, I’ve been playing a whole bunch of positions, so yeah, there’s nothing to it. (Game action at outside linebacker) would be nothing new to me.”
The Steelers have starters Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen and backup Cole Holcomb at inside linebacker, in addition to Harrison and special teams rookie seventh-round pick Carson Bruener.
