The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of things going their way currently. Fresh off their bye week, the Steelers have full control of the AFC North heading into Week 6, despite having played one less game than the other three teams in their division. And as they prepare for their upcoming game, they appear set to get a boost in the return of star linebacker Alex Highsmith.
In Week 2, Highsmith suffered a high ankle sprain that held him out of the team’s two most recent wins over the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. With Week 5 off, that gave Highsmith the time necessary to get healthy and get back on the field for the Steelers when they returned to action.
On Thursday, Highsmith was a full participant at practice for Pittsburgh, indicating that he’s on track to suit up for the first time since the team’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. One of Highsmith’s fellow linebackers, Nate Herbig, knows just how important he is to the team’s defense, and he is looking forward to taking the field with him on Sunday.
“That’s big time,” Herbig said of Highsmith’s Week 6 return. “Alex is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, so being able to have that guy back healthy, him being out there running around, hitting the quarterback, setting the edge, doing what he does, I’m excited to watch him play.”
Highsmith still has some hurdles to clear before he gets back on the field, but all signs are pointing to him playing in Week 6. When Pittsburgh suits up on Sunday afternoon, it will be taking on the Cleveland Browns in a big divisional clash, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
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