The Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with some major injuries at the outside linebacker position, leaving rookie fourth-rounder Jack Sawyer in line to potentially make his first career start in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions.
On Thursday, T.J. Watt (lung) and Nick Herbig (hamstring) missed their second consecutive practices and appear to be trending toward missing Sunday’s game against Detroit. This would leave Sawyer and Alex Highsmith as the starters on defense, with DeMarvin Leal serving as the backup OLB.
Recovering from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung, Watt missed last week’s matchup versus the Miami Dolphins. Herbig suffered his hamstring injury against Miami and was replaced by Sawyer in the win.
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We’ll learn more about Watt and Herbig’s availability during Friday’s practice, but it appears Sawyer will be challenged with taking on the Lions’ offensive line in his first potential career start this Sunday.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers’ Watt, Herbig injuries could lead to Sawyer’s first NFL start
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