Losing Alex Highsmith for an extended period is the last thing a reeling Pittsburgh Steelers defense needs right now. They have reportedly avoided a more dire situation.
Highsmith left Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks early with what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin later labeled a high-ankle sprain. Yet the linebacker isn’t expected to go on the injured reserve, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
A trip to the IR would cost Highsmith a minimum of four games. While this news could suggest the injury isn’t as bad as the Steelers initially feared, it doesn’t necessarily mean the 28-year-old can play against the New England Patriots in Week 3.
Highsmith missed one game through the first four seasons of his career before sitting out six games in 2024. He disrupted the pocket with seven sacks in 12 games, including Pittsburgh’s first-round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
An unheralded force in Pittsburgh’s front seven, Highsmith has 36.5 sacks, 75 quarterback hits and nine forced fumbles in his NFL career. The former third-round pick commenced his sixth season with eight tackles, three quarterback hits and a sack in a Week 1 shootout win over the New York Jets.
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Highsmith played just 10 snaps before exiting last Sunday’s game. The Steelers struggled without him, allowing 395 total yards to the Seahawks at home.
Only three teams (Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants) have allowed more yards than the Steelers through two weeks. For the first time since 2002, they started a season by permitting at least 30 points in consecutive contests.
Pittsburgh already played Week 2 without Joey Porter Jr., DeShon Elliott and Derrick Harmon, so the defense can ill-afford to also lose Highsmith.
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Featured image via Barry Reeger/Imagn Images