Steelers' Nick Herbig: Sets career-best mark in sacks
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Herbig recorded 30 tackles (21 solo), including 7.5 sacks, along with an interception, three pass defenses, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
While Herbig's tackle total didn't jump off the page during the 2025 campaign, he ranked second on the team in sacks despite appearing in just 15 regular-season matchups. The 2023 fourth-round pick was on the field for just 53 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps this year and could have the potential to build upon his production during the final season of his rookie contract in 2026 if his playing time increases.
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Steelers' Keeanu Benton: Tops 50 tackles in 2025
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Benton generated 51 tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, along with a pass defense and a forced fumble while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Benton's production over his first two professional seasons in 2023 and 2024 was incredibly consistent, as he recorded exactly 36 tackles (16 solo), including one sack, during each of his first two years in the NFL. However, he took a sizable step forward in 2025, setting career-best marks in tackles and sacks. The 2023 second-rounder has yet to miss a game in his career and will attempt to build upon his momentum during the final year of his rookie contract in 2026.
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Steelers' Chuck Clark: Takes step back in 2025
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Clark logged 51 tackles (31 solo) along with three pass defenses and a forced fumble over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Clark joined the Steelers on a one-year contract ahead of the 2025 campaign, but his production declined during his first year with his new team. He recorded his lowest number of tackles since the 2018 season and wasn't very effective at defending passes. Clark will be an unrestricted free agent during the offseason and could have to settle for another short-term deal ahead of his age-31 season.
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Steelers' Joey Porter: Totals 52 tackles in regular season
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Porter logged 52 tackles (35 solo), including a sack, along with an interception and 14 pass defenses while appearing in 14 regular-season games in 2025.
Porter suffered a hamstring injury during the Steelers' regular-season opener that forced him to miss three games early in the year, but he still put together a productive campaign. Despite his missed games, the 2023 second-round pick set a career-high mark in pass defenses. Porter is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 and should have plenty of motivation to remain productive during his contract year.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey: Matches career-high mark in tackles
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Ramsey recorded 88 tackles (53 solo), including three sacks, along with an interception and eight pass defenses while appearing in all 17 games during the 2025 regular season.
Ramsey had somewhat disappointing results during his two seasons in Miami, but he bounced back during his first year with the Steelers in 2025. He matched his career-best total in tackles while also racking up a career-high three sacks. Ramsey inked a four-year restructured contract with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 campaign, so he should remain a leader in the secondary in 2026.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen: Tops 100 tackles once again in 2025
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Queen logged 120 tackles (56 solo), including a sack, along with four pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Queen has yet to miss a regular-season game over his first six professional campaigns, and he's topped 100 tackles in five of those seasons. While he's recorded just one sack in each of his two seasons with the Steelers, he should remain involved during the playoffs and will presumably garner plenty of interest as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Leads team in sacks in 2025
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Highsmith posted 50 tackles (36 solo), including 9.5 sacks, along with three pass defenses and a forced fumble while appearing in 13 regular-season games in 2025.
Although Highsmith had a pair of two-game absences in 2025 due to ankle and pectoral injuries, he managed to reach the 50-tackle threshold for the fourth time in his first six professional seasons while also recording a team-high 9.5 sacks. The 2020 third-round pick saw plenty of work down the stretch after returning to game action in Week 13, and he should maintain a prominent role during the playoffs.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Logs seven sacks in regular season
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Watt tallied 55 tackles (23 solo), including seven sacks, along with two interceptions, eight pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 14 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Watt missed three of the Steelers' final four games of the regular season due to a partially collapsed lung. While most of his total numbers were down from the 2023 and 2024 campaigns -- when he didn't miss any games -- he was still relatively efficient in 2025 and finished third on the team in sacks despite missing three matchups. Watt returned to action for the team's Week 18 matchup against the Ravens and will continue to be available to begin the playoffs. The 2017 first-round pick signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025 season, so he'll remain a focal point for the team's defense in 2026.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Improves in second pro season
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Wilson recorded 126 tackles (74 solo), including two sacks, along Sith an interception, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery while appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Wilson showed promise as a rookie in 2024 with 78 tackles (49 solo), an interception, two pass defenses, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown, and he took a step forward in his second professional season by leading the Steelers in tackles. He had four games with double-digit tackles and should remain heavily involved in the playoffs and during the 2026 campaign.
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Steelers' Isaiahh Loudermilk: Not available for wild-card round
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The Steelers downgraded Loudermilk (ankle) from questionable to out in advance of Monday's wild-card game against the Texans.
Loudermilk was cleared to resume practicing this week for the first time since Week 2 after the Steelers opened his 21-day practice window, but the fifth-year defensive lineman remains on injured reserve so he doesn't count toward Pittsburgh's active roster. If Pittsburgh wins Monday, Loudermilk could be an option to return to action during the divisional round.
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Steelers' Isaiahh Loudermilk: Questionable to face Texans
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Loudermilk (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's wild-card game against the Texans, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Loudermilk hasn't taken the field since Week 2, and he logged a pair of limited practices during the week. He'll need to be activated from injured reserve before the game to have the chance to suit up.
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Steelers' Isaiahh Loudermilk: Practice window opens
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The Steelers announced Friday that Loudermilk (ankle) has been designated for return from IR, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Loudermilk will have a 21-day window to practice without counting against the active roster. Pittsburgh will have to activate him to the 53-man unit within that span, or he will revert to season-ending IR. The defensive tackle started the first two games of the regular season before landing on IR due to a high-ankle sprain.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Will play Week 18
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Pierre (calf) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pierre has been officially cleared to return from a three-game absence due to a calf injury, and he'll likely start at outside corner opposite Joey Porter on Sunday while Asante Samuel reverts to a depth role in the secondary. Across the 13 regular-season games prior to his calf injury, Pierre logged 28 tackles (12 solo), 11 pass defenses (one interception) and a scoop-and-score.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Cleared to play against Baltimore
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Watt (lung) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday night's AFC North clash against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
The veteran pass rusher was able to log a full practice Friday and will return from a three-game absence due to a partially collapsed lung that required a procedure to repair. Watt's return is crucial for a Steelers defense that will have its hands full containing the lethal duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, as the two teams battle for the AFC North division title and the No. 4 seed that comes with it. Watt played at least 80 percent of defensive snaps in 11 of 13 regular-season games, but he could have his snap count limited given the nature of the injury he overcame to play Sunday, which would result in Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer being used more heavily in the rotation with Watt and Alex Highsmith.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Pierre (calf) did not participate in Thursday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pierre was able to log a limited practice Wednesday but sat out of Thursday's session while managing a lingering calf injury that has caused him to miss the Steelers' last three games. His participation in Friday's practice will shed light on his chances of playing in Sunday's pivotal AFC North tilt against the Ravens. Asante Samuel would continue to start at outside cornerback opposite Joey Porter if Pierre is unable to play Week 18.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Practices in limited fashion Wed.
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Pierre (calf) logged a limited practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Pierre has missed Pittsburgh's past three games due to a calf issue. There could be some urgency to get him back, as the Steelers' bid for a playoff spot is on the line Sunday versus Baltimore. Asante Samuel Jr. has been starting at cornerback while Pierre has been out and would likely do so again if the latter remains sidelined Week 18.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Limited to begin Week 18 prep
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Echols (groin) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Echols hurt his groin Week 16 against Detroit and missed this past Sunday's loss to Cleveland because of the issue. With a limited practice under his belt to begin this week, the veteran cornerback appears to have a chance of returning to action for Sunday's matchup versus Baltimore, which will determine the winner of the AFC North. With that said, Echols' playing time had been slipping even before the injury, and he hasn't reached a 50 percent defensive snap share since Week 12.
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Steelers' Payton Wilson: Posts five stops vs. Cleveland
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Wilson logged five tackles (three solo) during the Steelers' 13-6 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Wilson played just 23 of 52 defensive snaps (44.2 percent) during Sunday's loss, but he still managed to finish tied for the second-most tackles on the Steelers behind Kyle Dugger (eight). Wilson is up to 123 combined tackles through 16 regular-season games, which leads the Steelers and is tied with Zack Baun for 17th most in the NFL.
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Steelers' Kyle Dugger: Picks off Sanders in Week 17 loss
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Dugger recorded eight tackles (five solo) and one interception during the Steelers' 13-6 loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Dugger's eight tackles Sunday were a season high, and he nabbed his second interception of the season when he jumped in front of a pass from Shedeur Sanders intended for Jerry Jeudy early in the fourth quarter. Since being traded by the Patriots to the Steelers in October, Dugger has logged 40 tackles (22 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and five pass defenses (including one interception and a pick-six) across eight regular-season games with Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Optimistic for Week 18
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Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic about Watt (lung) being available for the Week 18 showdown with the Ravens.
Watt has missed three consecutive weeks with a partially collapsed lung, and having the premier pass rusher available for Sunday's matchup could be huge for the Steelers' defense. The game will determine the AFC's No. 4 seed and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention. Therefore, if the outside linebacker is unable to return for the game, his season could be over. Watt logged limited practices throughout Week 17, so a full practice at any point this week would be a positive sign pointing towards the 31-year-old's ability to suit up for Week 18.
