Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League. Today, it’s how the Steelers will replace Alex Highsmith at right outside linebacker.
Highsmith is expected to miss at least the next two games with a left ankle sprain suffered in Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders.
The club has two obvious choices to replace Highsmith opposite T.J. Watt in the starting lineup: Preston Smith and Nick Herbig. But neither will be a one-to-one replacement.
Smith has been playing a part-time role in Green Bay, and even if head coach Mike Tomlin doubled his snap count from his first game with the team against the Commanders, that would still fall short of Highsmith’s usual role. Herbig has filled in for Highsmith in the past, but he is coming off a hamstring injury himself and the Steelers will likely want to bring him along slowly in his return to the game.
With both Smith and Herbig likely playing a limited role, Jeremiah Moon could see some playing time against his former team as well, especially to give Watt a break on the left side.
Alan breaks it down.
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