Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith takes step forward in injury rehab
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense received a monumental boost on Thursday as outside linebacker Alex Highsmith took the most significant step yet in his injury rehabilitation, practicing in full for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. This development, coming just days before a critical AFC North opener against the Cleveland Browns, signals a potential return of a pass-rushing force whose absence has been keenly felt.Highsmith’s progression through the week has been a textbook case of a modern NFL injury protocol; after being a limited participant on Wednesday, his upgrade to full capacity on Thursday—typically the final and most telling rehearsal before game day—strongly aligns with Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s Tuesday prognosis that he was expected to play Sunday. For a Steelers franchise built on a legacy of legendary defensive stalwarts from Mean Joe Greene to T.J. Watt, the health of its edge rushers is not merely a roster note but the very heartbeat of its identity.Highsmith, who erupted for 14. 5 sacks last season, forming one of the league's most formidable tandems with Watt, is not just a player; he is a system component, a disruptor whose ability to bend the edge and collapse the pocket creates the chaotic opportunities that define the Steelers' defensive philosophy.His anticipated return against a divisional rival like the Browns, with their powerful running game led by Nick Chubb, cannot be overstated—it’s the difference between applying consistent pressure on quarterback Deshaun Watson and allowing him the time to pick apart a secondary. Drawing a parallel to the relentless intensity of a Barcelona press under Pep Guardiola, Highsmith’s high-motor style is the defensive equivalent, a constant, harrying presence that forces mistakes and wins the field-position battle.While the news on Highsmith was overwhelmingly positive, the practice report wasn't without its concerns, creating a narrative of offsetting gains and losses that will define the upcoming clash. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek, limited Wednesday by an illness, also returned to full participation, providing depth for an offense that will need all its weapons.However, the continued absence of two key players casts a long shadow. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, still nursing a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Calvin Austin III, dealing with a shoulder issue, both missed their second consecutive practice, a strong indicator they are trending toward being unavailable.Losing a lockdown corner of Ramsey’s caliber against a receiver room like Cleveland’s is a strategic blow that forces defensive coordinator Teryl Austin into significant schematic adjustments, potentially limiting the aggressive blitz packages he can call without his top cover man. This injury report, in its totality, is a microcosm of the brutal, week-to-week warfare of the NFL, where one team’s resurgence in one unit is often counterbalanced by depletion in another.The true test for Highsmith will come not on the practice field, but on his first full-speed rep against Browns tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. , a moment that will reveal whether his ankle possesses its pre-injury explosiveness or if a degree of caution remains.For the Steelers, having their premier pass rusher back in the fold is more than a roster update; it’s a restoration of order, a return to the foundational principles of hard-nosed, disruptive football that has characterized this organization for decades. Sunday’s game will be a litmus test of that restored order, a high-stakes battle where a single player’s health can tilt the balance of an entire division race.
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