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Alex Highsmith has already missed three games this season, and he could be in line to spend further time on the sidelines. The fifth-year edge rusher exited Sunday’s Steelers win with an ankle injury, and further testing will take place to determine the full extent of the damage. 
While team and player await those results, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes an absence of two to three games is “likely.” Highsmith dealt with a groin injury earlier in the year, but he returned in time to play in the Steelers’ last three games. Missing him for any further period of time would deal a blow to the team’s edge rush.
Highsmith has formed a highly effective tandem with T.J. Watt during his Pittsburgh tenure. The former third-rounder emerged as a full-time starter in 2022, posting six sacks that year. Highsmith followed that up with a career-best 14.5 (along with five forced fumbles), and last season he added another seven to his career total. That production landed him a four-year, $68MM extension and raised expectations for the current campaign.
The 27-year-old has totaled three sacks so far this year, and he will be counted on to remain a starter once he is healthy. Pittsburgh has made it a priority to have veteran depth in the OLB3 role during recent seasons, however, and 2024 is no different. The Steelers acquired Preston Smith ahead of last week’s trade deadline after the Packers granted his request to be moved. The 31-year-old has 156 games to his name, so he will be capable of filling a first-team role for the time being.
As Dulac adds, Nick Herbig is expected to be back in the lineup this week. He has made a pair of starts in his five appearances this year (which, of course, came before the Smith addition), so he will be a candidate to handle a rotational role along the edge while Highsmith recovers. The latter’s return will give Pittsburgh an impressive list of options to complement Watt late in the year.
Pittsburgh’s win on Sunday leaves the team atop the AFC North with a 7-2 record. A crucial divisional matchup against the 7-3 Ravens looms, and not having Highsmith available for that game would be notable for the Steelers’ defense. Further updates on his prognosis will be worth watching closely.