Steelers Center To Miss Significant Time With Torn Rotator Cuff

The Pittsburgh Steelers received bad news regarding the injury of center Nate Herbig.

Herbig did not participate in the Steelers’ second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills after injuring his shoulder during the final week of training camp practice. Herbig is a 26-year-old center who was active in all 17 games last season playing 156 snaps. He is a position-flexible lineman who was a top reserve for Pittsburgh last season.

Pittsburgh could be without the services of starting center Herbig for the entire upcoming season due to injury according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

“Steelers center Nate Herbig is expected to be sidelined for a significant amount of time with a torn rotator cuff, a source confirmed to ESPN, paving the way for the team to start rookie center Zach Frazier,” Pryor reported.

“Herbig, an interior offensive lineman, worked primarily at center with the first-team line throughout training camp before suffering the injury last week. Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Herbig’s injury following the Steelers’ preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, but said Herbig, 26, was seeking a second opinion.”

A torn rotator cuff could keep Herbig out for the entirety of the season, though some players return sooner than the 28-week average. Losing Herbig for a significant amount of time is a blow to the Steelers’ lineman depth. Rookie second-round pick Frazier will need to step up in his absence as the Steelers strive to make a deep playoff run this season.

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