Steelers’ defensive woes might have to get worse before they get better following an under-the-radar injury to key starter
Down one of their biggest pieces.
All of the talk right now surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 2 loss is pointed towards Kaleb Johnson’s brain burp and the defense. The highest-paid unit in the league has been like water through a sieve. They can’t stop the run, defend the deep pass, and have even had trouble rushing the passer, as T.J. Watt still hasn’t recorded a sack.
Well, now the second half of that pass-rushing duo has gone down. Alex Highsmith exited the game yesterday with a high ankle sprain. It’s the last thing the defense needs, but there is a silver lining, however. Not only is Nick Herbig fully back as we saw yesterday, but Highsmith will escape the IR, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
“Steelers LB Alex Highsmith, who left Sunday’s game with what Mike Tomlin called a high-ankle sprain, is not likely to be placed on IR, sources say,” wrote Rapoport on (X) Twitter on Monday. “That’s good news, an indication that it’s not as serious as first believed. IR would knock him out for four games.”
Steelers Week 3 Injury update
“Had some injuries. [Isaiahh] Loudermilk had a high ankle. Highsmith had a high ankle. Patrick Queen had a rib injury. Payton Wilson was just heat-related, [he] missed a block of time,” said Mike Tomlin after the game. “A couple of other guys went in and out, and we’re capable of returning. James Pierre being one of them.”
There was a point in the game yesterday where the Steelers played a snap without Derrick Harmon, Highsmith, Queen, Wilson, DeShon Elliott, and Joey Porter Jr. That kind of attrition will affect anyone, but the two inside backers returned, and it was still more of the same.
The run defense was a mess, and it was clear that Porter Jr. was missed on the defensive perimeter. So the next couple of weeks will be tough. Typically, teams loathe having an early bye, but the Steelers having one in Week 5 coming off their trip to Ireland will be a massive helping hand, given not only the injuries, but the state of the defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers offers Kaleb Johnson a piece of advice he will desperately need after costly error against Seahawks
That will come in handy.
