A groin injury will sideline Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith for multiple weeks, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Highsmith initially dealt with the injury during training camp and aggravated it during Pittsburgh’s Week 3 win over the Chargers on Sunday. Highsmith’s injury is not considered major, nor will it require surgery, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, so the veteran could avoid a stint on injured reserve.
2023 fourth-round pick Nate Herbig is expected to take over Highsmith’s role, giving the former Wisconsin linebacker his first starting gig in the NFL. He appeared in 17 games with 23 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles as a rookie as a rotational edge defender behind Highsmith and T.J. Watt.
Herbig took advantage of his opportunity after Highsmith went down on Sunday and finished the game with two sacks, including a strip-sack of Justin Herbert after beating Chargers Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater.
Highsmith’s injury leaves the Steelers thin at outside linebacker, with only Jeremiah Moon backing up Watt and Herbig. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson has the versatility and size to slide outside and play off the edge, a role he occasionally filled at North Carolina State. Practice squad outside linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji will likely receive some game-day elevations as well.
Highsmith is in the second year of a four-year, $68M extension signed in 2023 after his 14.5-sack breakout campaign in 2022. He recorded just seven sacks last year and only one over the Steelers’ first three games this season. His absence will give the Steelers a chance to develop a more well-rounded pass rush beyond relying on their two star edge rushers. Expanded opportunities for Herbig and Moon — plus an exploration of Wilson’s versatile blitzing ability — could help Pittsburgh in the long run, giving it more options to pressure opposing quarterbacks later this season.
