Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons feared to have torn ACL, AP source says By ROB MAADDI and PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writers The Associated Press DENVER
DENVER (AP) — Micah Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher’s injury told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn't been confirmed by tests.
“I’m sickened,” Parsons told the AP in a text message.
Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers (9-4-1), who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday to fall a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
Parsons was steps away from another sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee. And in that moment, the Packers lost more than a showdown with the Broncos.
Asked about the possibility that Parsons tore his ACL, coach Matt LaFleur responded: "It doesn’t look good. I’ll leave it at that.”
It was the second significant injury for the Packers, who lost receiver Christian Watson to a chest injury after All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II fell on him following a third-quarter interception. LaFleur confirmed that Watson went to a hospital for tests.
“I told the guys, ‘Nobody is going to feel sorry for us,’” LaFleur said. “Everybody's going to have to elevate their play.”
Parsons blew past right tackle Mike McGlinchey and was chasing after Broncos quarterback Bo Nix when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground. Parsons clutched his knee as trainers and teammates came over to check on him. Surtain walked onto the field and tapped Parsons on the shoulder pads before he left for the locker room.
“It's obviously tough," LaFleur said after the Packers' four-game win streak was halted. “We all know what type of player he is and the impact he's had on our football team. To lose somebody like that, it's tough. ... We've got to find a way. Guys have to rally around one another.”
Parsons was having a big game. He forced an early fumble and was credited with a pass breakup.
Parsons has 12 1/2 sacks this season after the Packers acquired him from Dallas in late August for two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark . The Packers gave Parsons a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history.
“Hurt to see,” defensive end Rashan Gary said. “Will be missed on this defense. You all know his impact.”
Gary had a chance to briefly speak with Parsons after the game.
“Told him to keep his head up and we're going to finish strong for him,” Gary said. “It hurt.”
Green Bay was clinging to a 23-21 lead when Parsons was hurt. Soon after, Nix connected with Troy Franklin for the go-ahead score as the Broncos ran their winning streak to 11 games.
Was it hard for the Packers to get back into it without No. 1 on the field?
“You see your star player like that go down ... trying to finish the game strong for him. Trying to finish the game strong for us,” Gary said. “The situation, when we go on the field, we've got to find a way to get off — period.”
The 26-year-old Watson was hurt in the third quarter when Surtain made a diving interception and landed on top of him. Watson missed the start of the season as he recovered from tearing his ACL in Green Bay’s 2024 regular-season finale. He returned on Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh.
“A double whammy for us, just losing some pieces that are critical for our success,” LaFleur said.
The Packers have to regroup in a hurry. They play at Chicago on Saturday.
“We’ll come up with a plan,” LaFleur said.
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Maaddi reported from Tampa, Florida.
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Kansas City Chiefs say Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee and that he and team are exploring surgical options The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs say Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee and that he and team are exploring surgical options.
J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings win after being eliminated from playoffs before kickoff at Cowboys By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — J.J. McCarthy has back-to-back wins for the first time as an NFL quarterback, and three more games to show the Minnesota Vikings that he can help get them back into the playoffs next season.
While Minnesota (6-8) was eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff of its 34-26 win at the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, there is still time to try to build some more momentum with and for the injury-plagued young starting QB.
“The response from our quarterback was fantastic, on the road, Sunday night football, first attempt gets batted and intercepted,” coach Kevin O'Connell said.
“I love what I do. Like I love playing ball. I realize how blessed I am to be in this position. And most importantly I love the people I do it with,” McCarthy said. “It can get very loud and very noisy and you know there’s a lot of situations that I’ve gone through in my past to kind of minimize those things. And the number one thing that does that is just love what you’re doing right in front of you, love who you’re around because that’s what matters in the grand scheme of things, and focus on that growth each and every day.”
The Vikings have alternated between making and missing the playoffs in four seasons under O'Connell, and their next chance to get into the postseason will be in 2026. They lost in the wild-card round after going 13-4 in 2022, O'Connell's first year, and 14-3 in 2024.
McCarthy completed 15 of 24 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns to Jalen Nailor and that interception on his first attempt against the Cowboys. The 2024 first-round pick who won a national championship at Michigan also ran for a touchdown after a great fake handoff that left pretty much the left side of the field open for him to scamper into the end zone.
“His confidence is growing,” veteran center Ryan Kelly said. “He's just really taking that step forward and the kid’s shouldered a lot of weight in his first really year of starting. And what he’s been able to do the last two weeks has been really impressive.”
Minnesota went ahead to stay on fullback C.J. Ham's 1-yard touchdown run that made it 24-23 late in the third quarter on a drive that McCarthy extended with a 23-yard pass to Nailor on fourth-and-3 from the Dallas 37. Nailor's only other two catches were his touchdowns, a 20-yarder in the first quarter and a 4-yard score in the fourth.
After starting 3-2 this season, Minnesota lost six of seven after its bye week. The Vikings stopped a four-game losing streak with a 31-0 victory over Washington last week in McCarthy's return to the lineup after missing a game with a concussion, though that ended up being too little, too late .
That was the second time this season the Vikings won when McCarthy got back in the lineup after missing time.
McCarthy is 4-4 in his first season as the starting quarterback after his rookie year was wiped out by a torn meniscus in his right knee. This season, he was sidelined for five games by a high ankle sprain.
The Vikings beat NFC North rival Detroit to even their record at 4-4 in McCarthy's return on Nov. 2 before losing the next four. McCarthy struggled through the first three games of the losing streak, then missed a 26-0 loss to Seattle before a he threw season-best three touchdown passes against the Commanders and went without a turnover for the first time.
Minnesota chose to stick with McCarthy after his promising 2024 preseason, even though a breakout year from Sam Darnold resulted in a playoff trip. The Vikings let Darnold go to Seattle in free agency.
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Rams WR Davante Adams might not be ready for Seahawks showdown after reinjuring hamstring vs Lions By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer The Associated Press INGLEWOOD, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Wide receiver Davante Adams could miss the Rams' short-week showdown with Seattle after reinjuring his right hamstring in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles' 41-34 victory over Detroit on Sunday.
Adams got hurt while running a long route downfield in double coverage with 12:36 to play. The NFL's leader in touchdown receptions fell and landed facedown on the SoFi Stadium turf, staying down for a long moment before walking slowly to the Rams' locker room.
Coach Sean McVay said Adams will be evaluated in the next few days before the Rams (11-3) travel to Seattle on Thursday night to face the Seahawks (11-3) in a game for control of the NFC West and the No. 1 playoff seed. The team gave no prognoses about the seriousness of Adams' injury or the potential length of his recovery.
“(Adams) was optimistic, talking to him,” McVay said. “He knows his body really well. ... We'll see what that means. I can't imagine that's good for Thursday with just the short amount of time, but I certainly wouldn't rule him out quite yet. But it didn't look good.”
The 32-year-old Adams has been excellent during his first season with the NFC-leading Rams, who formally clinched their third straight playoff berth by beating the Lions. Adams had four catches for 71 yards against Detroit, giving him 56 receptions for 718 yards and a league-best 14 TDs this year.
But Adams has been slowed by hamstring problems twice during the season, and he was listed as questionable for this game after missing practice for much of the week.
“A huge part of our offense, a guy that’s put it in the end zone a bunch for us this year,” Stafford said. “That’ll be a tough one. I don’t know the extent of it. Didn’t look like it was a good one. Feel so tough for him. He’s been a warrior for us all year, really.”
The Rams would be short of proven options at receiver behind Puka Nacua if Adams is out for an extended time. Nacua has 102 catches for 1,367 yards in just 13 games after going off for nine receptions and 181 yards against the Lions.
Tutu Atwell returned to the Rams' lineup for the first time since mid-October against the Lions, making one impressive catch on just two targets. Youngsters Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield have all failed to make a significant impact as a target for Stafford despite getting more playing time than Atwell.
The Rams' solution could be even more reliance on the three-tight-end sets that McVay has used prolifically this season. Colby Parkinson made two TD catches against Detroit, giving him six in his last six games, while Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson also get extensive playing time.
"I've got a lot of faith and trust in the other guys that we have in the locker room, and our coaching staff to put us in a great position to let our play do the talking and just go play," Stafford said.
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Coach Kyle Shanahan explains why the 49ers placed Brandon Aiyuk on season-ending reserve list By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan called the decision to put missing receiver Brandon Aiyuk on a season-ending reserve list an easy one and it won't change what the team plans to do the rest of the season.
The 49ers officially placed their former No. 1 receiver on the reserve/left squad list on Saturday with Aiyuk no longer showing up as rehabilitates a knee injury that has sidelined him since last October.
“We haven’t seen him in forever," Shanahan said after San Francisco's 37-24 win over Tennessee on Sunday. "That’s the decision they make. It’s been pretty simple for me. I haven’t seen him in a month. It hasn’t been an issue with our team at all. We’ve been plugging away. No big deal. It’s something we've been used to for a while.”
The issues with Aiyuk go back to the summer previously voided $27 million guaranteed in his contract for next season for failing to participate in meetings and other team activities.
Shanahan had expressed hope earlier this year that Aiyuk could return, but the move made by the team this weekend makes him ineligible to play the rest of the season and makes it unlikely he will ever play again for San Francisco.
Aiyuk has three years remaining on the four-year, $120 million extension he signed last year. But he now has no guaranteed money remaining, making it simpler for the team to cut ties in the offseason.
“I wouldn’t say that’s for sure been decided,” Shanahan said. “I literally haven’t had to think about BA or had a reason to think about him in a long time. He is under contract next year. BA’s a guy we’ve had a relationship for a while. We’ve always liked BA. Everyone knows how good of a player he is. It’s extremely unfortunate that it’s gone to this point. But when this year’s over, we’ll see where we’re at.”
Aiyuk signed the lucrative extension last summer following a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. He was coming off a 2023 season when he had 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns and was a second-team All-Pro.
Aiyuk had only 25 catches for 374 yards in seven games last season before getting injured. He has been paid about $48 million the past two seasons for that production.
The 27-year-old Aiyuk has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020.
The Niners have overcome his absence to improve to 10-4 this season. The depth at receiver was shown on Sunday with Jauan Jennings catching two touhdown passes and Ricky Pearsall catching six passes for 96 yards.
“We’ve been playing with our receiver group all year,” Shanahan said. "I really have been hoping he would come back all year, but not one point was I really planning on it. That would have been a great bonus. That would have been awesome. I would love to have BA out there, would love to have that type of player.
"But that was something I realized early on wasn’t going to come for a while and there was nothing that made me sit there and think it was happening soon."
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Titans' Jeffery Simmons records a sack, forced fumble and a TD catch in loss to 49ers By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press SANTA CLARA, Calif.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jeffery Simmons took over the game for the Tennessee Titans in one three-play stretch in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
What went on in the other 59 minutes of San Francisco's 37-24 win over Tennessee on Sunday made that impressive period a footnote to yet another loss for the Titans.
Simmons put together the sixth game on record with at least one sack, a forced fumble and a touchdown catch as the do-everything defensive tackle showed off his wide array of skills.
“You just absolutely love the way Jeff plays, the way he leads, you do love everything about him,” interim coach Mike McCoy said. “You can see him catch that ball, I mean, those are natural hands. And that was pretty sweet. He’s caught a couple of balls like that in practice. What a great effort by everyone to get that touchdown.”
The stretch started when Simmons beat a one-on-one block and hit Brock Purdy just before he was attempting a pass. The ball got knocked loose and Kaiir Elam recovered it.
Simmons was credited with his career-high ninth sack of the season on the play and his second forced fumble.
“This year, I try to take every play like I’m going to get a one-on-one,” he said. “Finally got it and made a hell of a play on the ball. I was excited to get my career high today and hopefully we can keep stacking. Every time I step on the field, I want to be that player that can go make that play. I want to be the player that can cause and create sacks and whatever it may be, be disruptive.
"I think that’s my calling is to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”
Simmons showed he can be more than just a dominant defensive player after Cam Ward connected with Van Jefferson on a deep strike to the 1 on the next play.
Simmons then entered the game on offense and got loose in the back of the end zone after Ward scrambled for about 6 seconds and the D-lineman caught his second career TD pass .
Simmons said he never got the ball in practice on that play when he goes out in the flat, but the scramble allowed him to improvise and it led to the touchdown.
“He probably throws the ball, which is dangerous, across his body more than any quarterback in the league,” Simmons said. “I’m like, ‘I’m going to go the opposite way. I know Cam can make that throw.’ When I saw him release it, I said, ’Just don’t drop this ball.' That’s all the was going through my mind right there. Do not drop this ball. And he made a hell of a throw across his body. That’s Cam. Cam can do that, and it looked like effortless.
"I was happy to be able to catch that.”
The last time a player had a sack, a forced fumble and a TD catch in the same game came in 2014 when J.J. Watt did it twice for Houston. The only other players to pull that off since sacks became official were Mike Vrabel (2007), Jared Allen (2017) and Barry Krauss (1982).
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Charlie Smyth's game-winner for Saints is 'dream scenario' for Northern Irish kicker By GUERRY SMITH Associated Press The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Barely 27 months after he kicked an American football for the first time, Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth drilled a game-winning field goal in the NFL.
His 47-yarder with 2 seconds left on Sunday gave the New Orleans Saints their first lead and handed the Carolina Panthers a 20-17 loss that was as excruciating for them as it was exhilarating for him.
“I was just delighted to get the opportunity,” said Smyth, who was serenaded with chants of “Charlie, Charlie” in the locker room after receiving a game ball from coach Kellen Moore. “It was a good moment and one I’ll never forget. I’m pretty ecstatic right now, to be honest.”
The 24-year-old Smyth graduated college as a primary school teacher in the summer of 2023, with his only kicking experience coming in Gaelic football as a goalkeeper. He signed up for a master’s program in Belfast, but ended up pursuing the NFL instead, joining the league’s International Player Pathway Program.
“If you told me I’d be kicking in a game in the NFL, I probably would have laughed at you,” he said. “Just the way things panned out, it’s been really a dream scenario.”
During the 2024 preseason, Smyth hit a 37-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to beat Arizona and ended up on the practice squad. After the Saints cut Blake Grupe three weeks ago, Smyth was promoted to the active roster for the first time in Week 13 at Miami, where he made a 56-yard field goal in his first attempt.
That one came in a loss. His latest kick gave the Saints their second consecutive win after they started 2-10.
“The outside world would say there’s a lot of pressure on you, but I’d like to say I embrace those moments,” Smyth said. “It’s just up to you to go out and execute everything you’ve been practicing the last two years.”
His teammates felt his confidence.
“We had no doubt,” said rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who guided the Saints 62 yards to set up Smyth’s kick. “He does that every single day in practice. You’ve got to have a level of cold-bloodedness to play that position. I think everybody knew what the result was going to be.”
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Detroit Lions are running out of time to make playoff push, though belief remains strong By DAN GREENSPAN Associated Press The Associated Press INGLEWOOD, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Lions know what it takes to compete with the best in the loaded NFC after a 41-34 loss to the conference-leading Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
But with three games and zero margin for error remaining to make the playoffs, the Lions are running out of time to be able to put those lessons to use.
“You know what it is. And we’re not there right now,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Doesn’t know we can’t be, but now we know what it looks like, and you got to get better. We got to get better. We got to move on. Can’t sulk about it. Can’t felly sorry for ourselves. We make the corrections, and we move on.”
The Lions (8-6) haven’t made the postseason in three consecutive campaigns since 1993-95, and understood coming into the weekend that even winning out might not be enough to get a playoff berth and end that streak.
They came out with a first half worthy of the Super Bowl aspirations they entered the season with, taking a 24-14 lead with 30 seconds remaining behind a dynamic passing attack from quarterback Jared Goff to wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, plus a jaw-dropping interception by edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson on a tight end screen and returning it 58 yards.
“Aidan made a great play,” Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Looked like he was the primary receiver on the damn play. Made me look silly in space.”
But the Rams (11-3) snatched a field goal to end the second quarter, and the Lions could not regain momentum after the break, going three-and-out on both possessions in the third quarter while the defense gave up 17 points.
Goff pointed to ineffectiveness on first down in the second half, forcing the offensive line into situations where Los Angeles could turn to its powerful pass rush. Campbell essentially agreed, noting an overall inability to run the ball as Detroit had two carries for 11 yards in the third quarter, plus a holding penalty which negated a first down and left the offense facing third-and-long.
“But, the bottom line is, we weren’t able to convert, and so then we strung the defense out, and then all of a sudden it flips,” Campbell said. “You’re up 10, you’re down 10, and that was a rough quarter for us.”
The Lions finished with just 70 yards rushing on 20 carries, having failed to win any of their five games this season when totaling less than 100 yards on the ground.
Goff went 25 of 41 for 338 yards and three touchdowns, finding St. Brown 13 times for 164 yards and two scores and Williams seven times for 134 yards and a score, though their overall effectiveness dropped off in the second half.
Detroit needs to win its final three games — against Pittsburgh, at Minnesota on a short week, and at Chicago — and get help to have a shot at the playoffs
Goff expressed belief the Lions can still put a streak together, even after alternating wins and losses for the past 10 games.
“We’re resilient,” Goff said. “I hope I can give you a really good answer in a couple weeks. But we’re resilient. We really are, and I expect us to bounce back from this, and we still have plenty of stuff in front of us.”
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Injuries to Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons ruin NFL's Week 15 By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
First, Patrick Mahomes went down. Then, it was Micah Parsons .
The NFL lost two of its all-time greatest players to serious knee injuries in a span of a few hours on Sunday, ruining a day filled with exciting comebacks and fascinating stories.
Forty-four-year-old Philip Rivers played his first game in 1,800 days and nearly led the 14-point underdog Indianapolis Colts to a stunning upset against Seattle before Jason Myers kicked a 56-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to lift the Seahawks to an 18-16 victory.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills from a 21-0 deficit to a 35-31 victory at New England, snapping the Patriots’ 10-game winning streak and preventing them from clinching the AFC East.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rallied the New Orleans Saints to a 20-17 comeback victory over the Panthers capped by Charlie Smyth’s 47-yarder as time expired, damaging Carolina’s chances to win the NFC South and boosting Tampa Bay’s hopes.
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams overcame a 10-point deficit and rolled past the Lions 41-34, dampening Detroit’s playoff bid. The Rams lost three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury in the game. He could miss Thursday night’s game at Seattle, a battle for first place in the NFC West.
Jalen Hurts played like the Super Bowl MVP and the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 rout over the woeful Las Vegas Raiders.
But the injuries to Mahomes and Parsons overshadowed everything else that happened in Week 15.
Even the Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention was secondary to the news about Mahomes.
The three-time Super Bowl MVP tore the ACL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that ended Kansas City’s streak of 10 straight playoff appearances and seven consecutive trips to the AFC championship game.
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes posted on social media before the diagnosis was announced. “And not going to lie it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”
Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher’s injury told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn’t been confirmed by tests.
“I’m sickened,” Parsons told the AP in a text message.
Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers, who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday to fall a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
Parsons was steps away from another sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee.
Asked about the possibility that Parsons tore his ACL, coach Matt LaFleur responded: “It doesn’t look good. I’ll leave it at that.”
With Parsons, the Packers were Super Bowl contenders. Without him, it’ll be much more difficult to get there. The Packers take on the Bears in a showdown for first place on Saturday night.
“We all know what type of player he is and the impact he’s had on our football team and to lose somebody like that, it’s tough,” LaFleur said. “Like I said, nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to find a way and guys have got to rally around one another.”
Mahomes and Parsons will not only miss the rest of this season but their status for the start of 2026 is uncertain. Players typically return from ACL injuries in 9-12 months.
Running back Adrian Peterson tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Dec. 24, 2011. He was back on the field for Week 1 the next season, ran for 2,097 yards in 16 games and became the last non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award in one of the most remarkable comebacks in league history.
Quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL, LCL and sustained damage to his IT band and meniscus on Dec. 17, 2017 and ended up watching the Eagles win the first Super Bowl in franchise history from the sideline. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 3 the following season, and threw for 3,074 yards, 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 102.2 passer rating in 11 games.
If Mahomes and Parsons didn’t damage other ligaments, it increases the possibility they could return for the 2026 season opener.
Regardless, both star players have a long, grueling rehab ahead.
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AP Sports Writers Dave Skretta and Pat Graham contributed to this report.
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TJ Watt is basically irreplaceable for the Steelers. Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer are ready to try By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Associated Press PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) — T.J. Watt enjoys being a mentor. Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker understands it's part of the job when you're among the best in the world at what you do. Still, the perennial Pro Bowler has long leaned into it, particularly when it comes to Nick Herbig.
The first tell-tale sign that Watt understood Herbig had the potential to be a difference-maker came during Herbig's rookie season two years ago.
Asked what makes the undersized Herbig stand out, Watt didn't point to Herbig's quickness or tenacity.
“He asks the right questions," Watt has said more than once .
Time to find out if all those “right questions” have led Herbig to the right answers. When Herbig steps onto the frigid Acrisure Stadium turf on Monday night as the Steelers (7-6) host the Dolphins , he'll do it without Watt nearby for the first time in his three-year career.
One of the NFL's elite pass rushers is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung following a dry-needling treatment mishap this week. Enter Herbig and rookie Jack Sawyer, who will both take on an increased workload while Watt recovers.
“I think that he’s prepared not just myself, but a bunch of the younger guys in that sense to be able to take on that larger role, not just as a player but as a leader, and bringing that energy and just doing everything that he does right,” said Herbig, whose 6 1/2 sacks this season trail only Watt's team-leading seven.
Herbig is not Watt, but he has shown flashes of being the latest link in Pittsburgh's long line of chaos-rendering edge rushers, a lineage that includes James Harrison, Greg Lloyd and Joey Porter Sr.
At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, Herbig makes up for his lack of bulk with lightning-quick reflexes and a relentlessness that helped him lead the Big Ten Conference in sacks during his final year at Wisconsin in 2022. He has showcased both on several occasions this year. In addition to the sacks, he's picked off a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered another for a Pittsburgh defense that relies heavily on creating turnovers to make up for an alarming inability to get stops, particularly against teams such as Miami that like to run the ball.
The Dolphins have won four straight games and five of six following a 1-6 start by putting the ball in running back De'Von Achane's hands and getting out of the way. Achane is averaging 109 yards during Miami's surge, taking some of the pressure off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
In that way perhaps, having Sawyer play more might be a benefit. The fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State lacks Watt's pass-rush skills but is adept at setting the edge against the run, something Pittsburgh has struggled to do consistently this season.
“I feel like I’m getting better each week and getting more comfortable with this level each week and the scheme and just trying to help this team win anyway I can,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer saw the field for just three plays last week against Baltimore, though that number figures to spike against the Dolphins as Pittsburgh tries to keep its tenuous hold on its AFC North lead while looking to extend its winning streak for Monday night home games to 23.
That streak began before Herbig or Sawyer — or even Watt for that matter — were born.
Sawyer is no stranger to high stakes. He played a pivotal part in the Buckeyes' run to a national championship last winter and is eager to show he's not intimidated by the stakes or the stage.
“I’ve always put on my best games late in the year at Ohio State,” Sawyer said, later adding, “You know, going on with this run, I want to be that guy that they can lean on if they need me and whenever my number is called.”
The potential return of rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon might help keep Achane in check. The first-round pick out of Oregon is questionable after missing the last two games with a knee injury unrelated to the one he sustained near the end of training camp that cost him a couple of games in September.
The rushing defense numbers with and without Harmon in the lineup are jarring. The Steelers are surrendering nearly 100 yards fewer a game on the ground with Harmon's No. 99 manning the interior line.
“Derrick is very stout,” longtime Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward said. “We’re having guys that are learning and coming along very well.”
The Steelers need that learning curve to start leveling off if they want to reach the playoffs for a third straight season. The finishing stretch beyond Monday night includes a trip to run-heavy Detroit and a visit by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.
Whether that game is for a playoff spot or chance to rest will rely heavily on Pittsburgh's ability to adapt without arguably its best player. While the “next man up” mentality has long been an NFL cliche, the Steelers have embraced it.
Embracing it and succeeding at it, however, are two different things. And Herbig and Sawyer and everyone else in black and gold know it.
“Obviously you can’t replace a guy like (Watt),” Herbig said. “A Hall of Famer, the best in the league, the best to ever do it. It’s hard to replace a guy like that. But we’re going to do everything in our ability to make sure we do the right things by him.”
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