Highsmith and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to restructure his contract and create roughly $7 million in cap space, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Highsmith is likely converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus, with Rapaport calling the move a "simple" restructure. The 2020 third-round pick notched seven sacks across 17 regular-season appearances in 2023, a far cry from his career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022. Nonetheless, he remains an integral part of Pittsburgh's defense for the foreseeable future.
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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.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Will play Sunday
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Highsmith (groin) is active Sunday against the Ravens, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Highsmith closed out the week with back-to-back limited practices and was expected to play. His ability to take the field Sunday against Baltimore should be good news for the Steelers defense.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Likely to play
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Highsmith (groin) should play Sunday against the Ravens despite his questionable tag, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The linebacker missed practice Thursday and was listed as questionable Friday. Highsmith was a limited participant in practice Friday. The fourth-year pro has 17 tackles, seven quarterback hits, one sack, one pass defensed, one interception and one forced fumble in four starts this season.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Productive in win
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Highsmith tallied seven tackles (five solo), a sack, a forced fumble and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown Monday in the Steelers' 26-22 win over the Browns.
Highsmith racked up seven tackles for a second consecutive week, and he also forced two turnovers during Monday's primetime win, including a strip sack in the fourth quarter that resulted in the go-ahead touchdown on T.J. Watt's scoop and score. The edge rusher saw a slight decline in tackles last season while also recording a career-high 14.5 sacks, and he's remained a productive member of Pittsburgh's defensive unit early in 2023.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Tallies seven tackles
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Highsmith logged seven tackles (four solo), including one for a loss, during the Steelers' 30-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
Highsmith landed a four-year contract extension with the Steelers in July, and he performed well in his 2023 debut. The team's defense struggled to contain the 49ers' offense as a whole, but Highsmith tied for second on the team in tackles. He appeared in all 17 games last year and racked up 63 tackles (38 solo), including 14.5 sacks, along with five forced fumbles and a pass defense.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Notches 10th sack of 2022
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Highsmith recorded six tackles (four solo), including one sack, and forced a fumble in Monday's 24-17 win against the Colts.
Highsmith increased his sack total to 10 by bringing down veteran signal-caller Matt Ryan for a seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter. The linebacker also caused Ryan to lose the ball before going down, though this fumble was recovered by offensive lineman Will Fries. Highsmith has now accumulated 3.5 sacks since fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who spent seven games on IR with separate knee and pectoral injuries, returned to the field Week 10. These two should continue to form one of the league's most disruptive pass-rushing duos moving forward this season.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Slated for increased role
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Highsmith will take on an increased role in the Steelers' defense after T.J. Watt (pectoral) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
Highsmith performed well during Pittsburgh's season-opening win over the Bengals, racking up nine tackles (six solo), including three sacks, and a forced fumble. He was on the field for 83 percent of the team's defensive snaps and should have the chance to continue making an impact among the Steelers' linebackers since Watt will be unavailable for at least four weeks.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Dealing with rib injury
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Highsmith suffered a rib injury in practice Monday, Missi Matthews of the Steelers' official site reports.
Details of Highsmith's injury are not yet known. The 25-year-old had a breakout sophomore campaign last season, totaling 74 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble. He's currently projected to start at outside linebacker this season.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Sacks Mayfield twice
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Highsmith recorded seven tackles -- including two sacks -- in Monday's 26-14 win over the Browns.
Highsmith and fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt combined for six of the Steelers' nine sacks on the night. A second-year player out of Charlotte, Highsmith has excelled while moving into a starting role in 2021. Through 15 appearances, he's compiled 70 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Appears to have avoided big injury
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Highsmith (quadriceps) is expected to have avoided a major injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Highsmith will undergo further medical evaluation Friday after having been forced out of Thursday's loss to the Vikings due to a reported quadriceps issue. Currently, the Steelers appear to believe that the linebacker is dealing with a contusion above his knee. Even if Highsmith has avoided a season-ending injury, it's uncertain whether he'll be available for Week 15 against Tennessee.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Suffered quad issue
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Highsmith suffered an injury to his quadriceps and was forced out of Thursday's game against Minnesota, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith was originally believed to have suffered a knee injury, but coach Mike Tomlin clarified after the game that it was in fact a quadriceps issue. The positive news is that Highsmith will have 10 days to try to make it back onto the field for Pittsburgh's Week 15 matchup against Tennessee.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Tallies six tackles
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Highsmith recorded six tackles (three solo) and 1.5 sacks in Sunday's 41-37 loss to the Chargers.
Highsmith has played at least 78 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps in each of the last five games, and he led the team in sacks during Sunday's narrow loss. Across his first nine appearances of the season, the 2020 third-rounder has totaled 45 tackles (23 solo) and three sacks.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Double-digit tackles Sunday
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Highsmith notched 11 tackles (eight solo) during Sunday's 16-16 tie with the Lions.
Highsmith recorded a season-high 11 tackles Sunday, but he only has 39 total tackles through eight appearances this season. The second-year linebacker likely isn't a viable IDP option in standard leagues.
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Groin injury resurfaces
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Highsmith (groin) was back on the Steelers' injury report Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Highsmith had been dealing with a groin injury during training camp, but he was removed from the injury report ahead of Week 1 and logged 88 defensive snaps over the first two weeks of the season. It's a bit concerning that the 24-year-old's groin injury has resurfaced, but it may just be a minor issue that he has to deal with throughout the season. Highsmith played in all 16 games as a rookie and registered 48 tackles, two sacks and one interception.
