Nick Herbig Confidently Declares: 'I Play to Win, and I'm Proving I'm the Right Choice for the Steelers!'
In a bold statement that has turned heads in Pittsburgh, Nick Herbig, the young linebacker for the Steelers, has declared his unwavering commitment to proving himself as the future of the Steelers' defense. Following comments from Chris Hoke, who suggested that Herbig is currently a better pass rusher than T.J. Watt, Herbig shared his thoughts with a clear message: he's here to win, not just to participate.
"I’m always ready to face challenges, and when I step on the field, I don’t just play to be part of the game. I play to win," Herbig said. "If Chris Hoke says that I’m a better pass rusher than T.J. Watt right now, I take that as motivation to keep pushing forward. I want to prove that I am the right choice for the Steelers."
Herbig's confidence has grown with each passing game, and it's evident in his performances on the field. As a young player who has had to step up and fill big shoes, particularly in a defense that boasts one of the league’s premier players in Watt, Herbig is proving he’s more than capable of handling the pressure. His ability to create pressure, rack up sacks, and make impactful plays is quickly earning him the respect of his teammates and coaches alike.
Herbig’s rise has been a pleasant surprise for Steelers fans. The former Wisconsin standout has impressed with his speed, quickness, and ability to generate consistent pressure on quarterbacks. His performance in recent games has been remarkable, earning him a starting spot and a role as one of the team's key pass rushers.
But Herbig isn't just focused on his own success; he’s driven by a desire to help the Steelers return to their championship form. With T.J. Watt as the anchor of the defense, Herbig knows that his role is to complement Watt’s greatness and elevate the entire defense to new heights.
"It's not about me or T.J. Watt," Herbig added. "It's about the team. We're all pushing each other to be better, and I want to be a part of a defense that dominates. Whether it's me, Watt, or anyone else, we're all contributing to making this team great."
Herbig’s mentality is exactly what the Steelers need as they aim to strengthen their defense for a deep playoff run. With his focus, determination, and skill set, Herbig is proving that he's ready to be a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense for years to come.
Vikings LB Blake Cashman Returns to the Field After Hamstring Injury
Coming out of their bye week, the Minnesota Vikings got some positive news on a key defensive starter. LB Blake Cashman, a former fifth-round pick of the Jets whom the Vikings signed in 2024, has been on Injured Reserve (IR) since Week 1 after sustaining a hamstring injury in the team’s Week 1 game against the Bears.
But in great news for the Vikings, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced during his Monday press conference that the team is opening the 21-day practice window for Cashman. When a player returns from IR, the team can activate a 21-day window during which the player can practice with the team, but does not count against an active roster spot until he’s ready to return to game action. The team can fully activated him at any time in that window, but if they don’t before the 21 days expire, the player reverts to IR and cannot be activated again that season.
“[I’m] also excited to open up Blake Cashman’s [practice] window, we’ll open [it] up today,” O’Connell said. “We’ll go out for some on-field work today to kinda get the week kicked off. …It’ll be great to get Cash back on the practice field, we’re opening that window up, and he’s done a heck of a job getting himself ready to go. And we’ll give him the week of preparation and see where he’s at towards the tail end of the week.”
O’Connell also announced that QB J.J. McCarthy, RT Brian O’Neill, G Donovan Jackson, and C Michael Jurgens all returned to practice on Monday after missing the Vikings‘ Week 5 game against the Browns in London.
LB Blake Cashman is Critical to the Minnesota Vikings Defense
“I think a guy like Blake Cashman coming back is critical as well,” O’Connell said later in his press conference. “Because he assumes that ‘green dot’ position and we have just seen since we got Blake, when he is out there, and we’re playing the kind of defense we’re accustomed to seeing, Blake’s got a lot to do with it. So [we’re] very excited to get him back.”
The “green dot position” refers to a literal green dot sticker that one player on each side of the ball wears on the back of their helmet. Only one player for each team is allowed to wear one on the field on any given play, but the green dot designates which player is allowed to talk to the coaches on the sidelines through the helmet communication systems. On offense, that’s always the quarterback. On defense, it’s typically the middle linebacker, but it can also be a safety or other linebacker position.
For the Vikings defense, that player is Cashman. He’s responsible for getting the defense set, communicating the playcall to the rest of the unit, making sure everyone’s in the right spots, and calling out any audibles or adjustments based on what the offense is doing. More than just what he offers during the play, Minnesota is getting the quarterback of their defense back.
