Steelers Star Leaves Training Camp Practice With Possible Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers will hope their defense didn’t receive a noteworthy setback during training camp.

Mike Tomlin told reporters, per TribLive’s Chris Adamski, that Alex Highsmith exited Sunday’s practice with a potential injury. The linebacker tweaked his groin during padded one-on-one drills and will undergo further evaluation.

“He stopped and said he maybe felt his groin,” Tomlin said. “We’ll evaluate it, and I’ll be more definitive the next time we talk, not just about the injury but the severity of it.”

Highsmith has played an immense role in Pittsburgh’s defense since joining the team in 2020. He notched six of his 35 career sacks in 11 games last season and another in a first-round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The former third-round pick has tallied 287 tackles, nine forced fumbles and three interceptions for Pittsburgh. He’s helped form one of the NFL’s fiercest front sevens alongside J.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. Pro Football Focus named Watt and Highsmith the league’s best edge-rushing duo earlier this offseason.

Highsmith had missed just one game in his NFL career before a groin injury sidelined him for three games early last season. The 6-foot-4, 242-pounder later missed three more games with an ankle injury.

A healthy Highsmith is pivotal to Pittsburgh’s lofty aspirations in 2025. Jalen Ramsey replaces Minkah Fitzpatrick in last year’s 12th-ranked defense, which compiled 40 sacks. The Steelers hoped to elevate their ceiling after consecutive 10-7 seasons by acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf.

For now, Steelers fans can only cross their fingers that Highsmith avoided a serious injury.

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