During this wild, unpredictable season, the Pittsburgh Steelers at one point were down to their fourth and fifth inside linebackers and fifth and sixth safeties as starters.

No fewer than four players who spent time out of football earlier this fall have played prominent roles on the defense, two of which came out of an announced retirement.

Additionally, two multiple-time first-team All-Pros — Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cameron Heyward — have missed seven and six games, respectively because of injury.

With that in mind, what’s one more injury, especially one at a position regarded as having arguably the best set of backups on the team? No big deal, right? After all, “Next man up.”

Well …

“He’s T.J. Watt,” safety Miles Killebrew said. “It’s hard to replace that.”

Indeed, the Steelers suffered their most significant personnel loss yet, and at the worst possible time. With a playoff game looming Sunday at the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers are preparing to be without the player who just finished as the NFL’s sacks leader for a record-tying third time.

As Watt’s future Hall of Fame brother posted on social media, Watt has a Grade 2 sprain of the MCL in his left knee suffered during Saturday’s win at the Baltimore Ravens. It is expected to sideline Watt for multiple weeks, meaning the only way he’ll get back on the field this season is if the Steelers win (at least) one playoff game.

“You have got to play hard for a guy like him when he’s out because that’s what he does,” said Markus Golden, one of the players who will replace Watt at outside linebacker.

Golden played 21 defensive snaps and Nick Herbig 13 in the rainy regular-season finale against the Ravens. The only other player on the outside linebacker depth chart, Kyron Johnson, made his Steelers defensive debut by getting on the field for one play. Johnson, a special-teamer the past six games, played 18 defensive snaps as a rookie for the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

But make no mistake, the task of replacing Watt will fall mostly on Herbig — the Steelers’ intriguing rookie fourth-round pick — and Golden, a 32-year-old, nine-year NFL veteran.

“Nick and Markus, every time they’ve come in this year, they have been providing great reps,” said Alex Highsmith, who starts at outside linebacker on the opposite side of Watt. “They’ve been getting sacks, making plays. I know those guys will be able to come in and make plays for us.”

As recently as Dec. 31, Herbig made one of the biggest plays in one of the Steelers’ biggest games of the season, a strip sack of Geno Smith in the fourth quarter of a win at the Seattle Seahawks.

Golden has four sacks, 10 QB hits, a batted-down pass, six tackles for loss and a fumble recovery among only 230 defensive snaps played this season, his first with the Steelers.

“He’s just an awesome guy in the locker room,” said Highsmith, who in the first year of a $68 million contract could show he’s capable of a more starring role. “(Golden) is not only a great player on the field, but he’s a great teammate, a great leader. He’s a veteran, he’s been in this league for a while, he’s been doing it at a high level for a while. … I look forward to continue to build that relationship with him.”

Herbig joined the Steelers with a pedigree of an 11-sack season at Wisconsin last year along with a pre-existing bond with Watt. He opened eyes at training camp and during the preseason when he had 3 ½ sacks in three games.

But because of the abilities and durability of Highsmith and Watt this season, Herbig has played more than 17 defensive snaps in a game only once. On the biggest stage, the playoffs, Herbig will have a chance to show just how bright his future might be.

“It just comes down to preparation and hard work,” Herbig said Monday. “When the lights come on, you are going to see the preparation and hard work come to fruition.”

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