With RG James Daniels out, Nate Herbig to get 1st start for Steelers
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After missing a full week’s worth of practice because of a groin injury, Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels officially was ruled out for Sunday’s scheduled game at the Houston Texans.
Daniels’ designation on the league-mandated status report means for the first time since he signed as a free agent with the team in 2022 someone other than him will take a regular-season snap at right guard.
That someone will be Nate Herbig, who will make his first start for the Steelers on Sunday.
“I got a lot of (practice) reps this week,” Herbig said. “Just trying to take advantage of my opportunities.”
Herbig has started 17 NFL games, including all 11 he played last season for the New York Jets. He spent the prior three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played alongside now-Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo.
Though Herbig has NFL experience at all three interior offensive line spots and is the top backup at both guard spots and center, most of his NFL experience — including all of his playing time on offense last season — has been at right guard.
“I don’t care where I play,” Herbig said. “I just want to play.”
Daniels did not leave last Sunday’s win at the Las Vegas Raiders, but he emerged from it with an injury serious enough he did not practice this week. Daniels earlier this month had an ankle injury that has healed.
Daniels’ absence Sunday in Houston will be the first time a Steelers’ starting offensive lineman has missed a game since 2021. The Steelers were the only team in the league in 2022 to start the same five offensive linemen for all 17 games.
Signed to a two-year, $8 million contract in March, Herbig is not worried about any issues with cohesion along the Steelers offensive line.
“The whole O-line room is tight,” he said. “I am confident playing with anybody out there.”
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