Steelers Lost Alex Highsmith To Injury During Tuesday's Practice

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been going through some intense practices recently. On the first day of padded drills, rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson was carted off with an ankle injury. This was a major scare for Steelers fans, but there's some optimism that he might not miss too much time. As practice continues to get more intense and the season gets closer. More injury scares are popping up for Pittsburgh.

On Tuesday, during practice, Alex Highsmith suffered a groin injury. Head Coach Mike Tomlin shared this news after the session when he spoke to members of the Pittsburgh media. Highsmith, one of the Steelers' top pass rushers and coming off a stellar season, is crucial to the defense. 

In the 2023 season, T.J. Watt led the Steelers' defense with a league-best 19 sacks, while Highsmith contributed with seven sacks. Highsmith's presence helps balance the attention of opposing offenses, preventing them from focusing solely on Watt. When certain analytical outlets point that Watt may not experience some of the double teams that other star pass rushers face. It's largely because the Steelers have scary pass rushers outside of Watt such as Highsmith. Having him at full health is crucial for the Steelers defense in 2024.

Steelers Hopeful That Alex Highsmith's Injury Isn't Major

Steelers fans and the team will be closely monitoring updates on Highsmith's condition, hoping the injury isn't severe. Currently, there’s limited information available, but more details are expected soon. Injuries are an inevitable part of football, and while the situation is concerning, the team hopes this will be a minor issue that won't keep Highsmith out for long. However, a groin injury is never good this early into the new year.