Player: OL Nate Herbig
Stock Value: Down
Reasoning: A week after struggling with quarterback-center exchanges, Nate Herbig now adds an injury to his worries. Attempting to win the Steelers’ starting center job, he exited Wednesday’s practice with an apparent arm injury. The veteran was already losing ground to Zach Frazier, and this could be the event that marks the permanent transition.
An injury was the last thing Nate Herbig could afford, as he needed to prove that he could deliver starting-quality play. While many have made too much of his lack of in-game experience at center, it was part of the equation. The Steelers allowed Herbig to run with the first-team offense all offseason, but that phase may be over.
Herbig exited the Steelers’ final open training camp practice, suffering an apparent arm injury. For whatever length of time he might miss, that will only afford Frazier more opportunities to claim the starting job.
Having spent most of his career as a backup, Nate Herbig took this opportunity very seriously. He knew he would have a fierce battle on his hands as soon as the Steelers drafted Zach Frazier, but to his credit, he rose to the challenge and he has given the maximum effort.
There is still the outside possibility, unlikely as it is, that the Steelers opt for the more experienced Herbig initially. But even that now rests upon his health, which, as of this writing, is unclear. If he escapes serious injury, then he can still be in the running to start the season opener.
With a $4 million salary, the Steelers could even consider parting company with Nate Herbig altogether. I don’t know how realistic it is that anybody would trade for him at his salary unless they need a starter in a bad way. But they do have enough depth if they decide to cut him, Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick having center ability. Of course, James Daniels is a former center himself, so he could also act as insulation there.
As the season progresses, Steelers players’ stocks rise and fall. The nature of the evaluation differs with the time of year, with in-season considerations being more often short-term. Considerations in the offseason often have broader implications, particularly when players lose their jobs or the team signs someone. This time of year is full of transactions, whether minor or major.
A bad game, a new contract, an injury, a promotion—any number of things affect a player’s value. Think of it as a stock on the market, based on speculation. You’ll feel better about a player after a good game or worse after a bad one. Some stock updates are minor, while others are likely to be quite drastic, so bear in mind the degree. I’ll do my best to explain the nature of that in the reasoning section of each column.
