Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Logs full practice Thursday
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Highsmith (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith missed the Steelers' last three games due to an ankle injury. He started the week out with a limited session Wednesday, but he was a full participant in Thursday's practice and mentioned afterwards that his ankle is "feeling so much better." Highsmith's return for Sunday's game against the Browns bolsters an already elite edge rushing corps of T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Preston Smith.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Still nursing ankle injury
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Highsmith (ankle) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that he expects Highsmith to return for the Steelers' Week 14 matchup against the Browns, and Wednesday's limited session is a positive step in that direction. However, the 27-year-old's practice participation Thursday and Friday will likely offer the best insight into whether he can return for Sunday's divisional contest.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Expected back for Week 14
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he expects Highsmith (ankle) to play in Sunday's game against the Browns, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith has missed the last three games but appears ready to return for this week's divisional tilt. Through six games, Highsmith has tallied three sacks among his 19 tackles (11 solo) on the season. Highsmith will rejoin T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Preston Smith as the Steelers' primary edge rushers.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Still sidelined
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Highsmith (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith is set to miss his third straight contest and sixth game of the campaign. Nick Herbig will step into an expanded role and has seven total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, across the last two games.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Unlikely to play vs. Cincinnati
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Highsmith (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice but is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith was able to finish the week with consecutive limited practice sessions, but it appears he will miss his third straight game due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Commanders in Week 10. If Highsmith is indeed ruled out for Sunday's game, Nick Herbig would likely serve as the Steelers' second starting outside linebacker opposite T.J. Watt, and Preston Smith would see an uptick in defensive snaps in a rotational role.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Upgrades to limited practice
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Highsmith (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith was estimated as a DNP for Wednesday's walkthrough, so his LP estimation Thursday is a step in the right direction. The veteran pass rusher is looking to return from a two-game absence caused by an ankle injury he suffered in Week 10 against Washington. If Highsmith can't play Sunday, Nick Herbig will likely continue to garner increased defensive snaps.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Officially ruled out
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Highsmith (ankle) will not play Thursday against the Browns, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Highsmith will miss a second consecutive contest after suffering the injury in Week 10. With the Charlotte product's absence, Nick Herbig should be in line for a considerable role once again.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Unlikely to play at Cleveland
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Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Highsmith (ankle) probably won't play Thursday against the Browns, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Highsmith was sidelined during Sunday's game versus the Ravens by an ankle injury he suffered in Week 10 at Washington, and now it looks like he's likely going to miss his second game in a row in Week 12. If so, 2023 fourth-rounder Nick Herbig could be in line to start again Thursday.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Injures ankle in Week 10 win
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Highsmith injured his left ankle late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 28-27 win over the Commanders, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith was spotted on crutches following Sunday's win after suffering an ankle injury, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com. Highsmith will undergo further testing on his ankle, though it looks like he is in serious jeopardy of missing the Steelers' Week 11 contest against the Ravens. If that were to be the case, Nick Herbig or the newly acquired Preston Smith would get the start at outside linebacker opposite T.J. Watt.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Ruled out for Week 6
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Coach Mike Tomlin said Highsmith (groin) will not play in Sunday's Week 6 game against the Raiders, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith will miss his third consecutive game, and with Nick Herbig (hamstring) injured in Week 5 and now ruled out against the Raiders, the Steelers are scraping for edge depth. Jeremiah Moon is next up in line opposite T.J. Watt.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Remains out
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Highsmith (groin) will not play Sunday against the Cowboys, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith suffered the injury in Week 3 against the Chargers and was expected to miss multiple weeks. So his absence Week 4, and now in Week 5, isn't entirely unexpected. Nick Herbig should continue taking on a larger role when the Steelers travel to Dallas on Sunday.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Out for at least Week 4
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Highsmith (groin) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Colts, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith was forced out early during Pittsburgh's win over the Chargers in Week 3 due to a groin injury. Though Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com relays that Highsmith isn't expected to require surgery, the edge rusher's absence will likely span multiple weeks. Nick Herbig should be in line for a starting role opposite T.J. Watt until Highsmith is able to get back on the field.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Won't return Sunday
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Highsmith (groin) won't return to Pittsburgh's game versus the Chargers on Sunday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Highsmith sustained a hip injury early in Sunday's game and will now miss the remainder of the game. Nick Herbig will likely see an expanded role in Highsmith's absence.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Sacks Nix in Week 2
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Highsmith recorded four solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, during Sunday's 13-6 win over the Broncos.
Highsmith recorded his first sack of the year Sunday. He got to Bo Nix for a seven-yard loss late in the first quarter, which forced the Broncos to punt and eventually led to a five-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields to Darnell Washington. Highsmith registered a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022, but he has accrued 8.0 sacks over the 19 regular-season games since. He'll look to add to that total in Week 3 against Justin Herbert and the Chargers.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Racks up seven sacks in 2023
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Highsmith tallied 57 tackles (34 solo), including 7.0 sacks, along with two interceptions, three pass defenses, two forced fumbles and a touchdown over 17 games during the 2023 season.
Highsmith recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022 and was unable to come close to that mark in 2023, but he still put together a decent stat line during his fourth professional season. The 26-year-old had some inconsistent performances but was on the field for 80 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2023 campaign, so he should continue to play a prominent role on the team's defense next year.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Cleared for Saturday
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The Steelers announced Thursday that Highsmith has cleared concussion protocol and won't have an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Colts.
Highsmith had initially been listed as questionable upon the release of the Steelers' final Week 15 injury report, but after turning in a full practice Thursday, the linebacker passed the final phase of the concussion protocol by gaining clearance from an independent neurologist. The Steelers will thus have both of their starting edge rushers available for Saturday, as T.J. Watt cleared concussion protocol Wednesday.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Limited in practice
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Highsmith (concussion) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Highsmith left Thursday's 21-18 loss to the Patriots with what was reported to be a neck injury, though he entered the league's concussion protocols the next day. He'll have to pass the NFL's five-step protocol -- which includes an evaluation from an independent neurologist -- in order to be available for Saturday's game against the Colts. Highsmith has 49 tackles (27 solo), including six sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown in 13 games this season.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: In concussion protocol
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Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Friday that Highsmith has entered the NFL's concussion protocol following Thursday's 21-18 loss to the Patriots.
Highsmith sustained what was reported as a neck injury in the first half of Thursday's loss and did not return. The good news for Highsmith and the Steelers is that he has over a week to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and be ready to play in Week 15 against the Colts.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Questionable to return
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Highsmith left Thursday night's game against the Patriots with a neck injury and is questionable to return, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
The linebacker walked off the field on his own and entered the medical tent, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. Highsmith made two tackles before exiting. The fourth-year pro has 49 tackles, including six sacks, two passes defensed, an interception and two forced fumbles in 2023.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Pair of sacks in win
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Highsmith recorded four tackles and two sacks in Thursday's 20-16 win over the Titans.
Highsmith entered the game with only 2.5 sacks across his first seven games of the campaign. He nearly doubled that mark in Thursday's contest, as he took down Will Levis twice for a combined minus-10 yards. Highsmith will look to use this contest as momentum to get to the quarterback more consistently across the second half of the season. The Steelers meet the Packers in Week 10.
