With the potential for both T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig to be sidelined in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for additional edge rushing depth.
On Wednesday, the Steelers hosted multiple edge defenders for visits according to the NFL transaction sheet. Those visits included former New England Patriots third-round pick and linebacker Ronnie Perkins.
The other edge defenders invited for a visit to Pittsburgh on Wednesday were linebacker Isaiah Thomas, defensive end Casey Toohill and linebacker Oshane Ximines.
The Steelers have been very busy with player visits this week. The team hosted those four players a day after 11 free agents were at the Steelers facility Tuesday.
Steelers Host 4 Defenders With Concern Around T.J. Watt Remaining
Perkins was one of two former third-rounders who visited the Steelers on Wednesday. The New York Giants selected Ximines at No. 95 overall in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The two edge rushers haven’t been teammates, but Ximines also spent time with the Patriots. Across six seasons with the Giants and Patriots, Ximines has posted 72 combined tackles and 6.5 sacks in 50 games.
Perkins actually never appeared in a regular season game for New England. He registered 13 combined tackles, including two for loss, with zero sacks for the Denver Broncos in 2023. That was two years after the Patriots drafted Perkins in the third round.
That’s the only regular season action in his NFL career. Most recently, Perkins was with the Atlanta Falcons early in the 2025 regular season. Ximines hasn’t been with an NFL team since last season.
Thomas and Toohill were each seventh-round selections in their draft classes. The Cleveland Browns picked Thomas at No. 223 overall in 2022 while Toohill went off the board to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 233 overall during 2020.
Thomas has recorded 12 combined tackles and one sack in 12 games with the Browns and Detroit Lions. Toohill has posted 100 combined tackles with eight sacks in 71 games with the Eagles, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills.
Latest Steelers Injury Report
The Steelers overcame the loss of Watt in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins. Pittsburgh sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa four times in a 28-15 victory.
However, Herbig exited the contest with a hamstring injury. Both Watt and Herbig didn’t practice Wednesday.
Watt is still out since undergoing surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. If the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year returns in time for Week 16, then he will be playing 10 days after his surgery.
Watt’s brother, J.J., wrote on social media that the Steelers edge rusher went to the hospital and needed the procedure after undergoing dry needling treatment at the team facility last week.
There’s been a lot of speculation about when Watt will be able to return. Some pundits have provided positive updates about his potential availability for December 21. But Wednesday, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly argued Watt might not play again during the regular season.
Tomlin didn’t have a clear timeline for Watt’s return when he spoke to reporters Tuesday.
With that uncertainty and Herbig also currently sidelined, it makes sense the Steelers are pursuing edge rusher insurance.
Without those two players, Alex Highsmith and Jack Sawyer are the two remaining healthy edge rushers on Pittsburgh’s active roster. The Steelers also have defensive end DeMarvin Leal and outside linebacker Julius Welschof on their practice squad.
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