Alex Highsmith Out, ROLB Starter Up in the Air for Steelers vs. Ravens

PITTSBURGH — Alex Highsmith will not be playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers at right outside linebacker against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, that much is assured, but whether it will be Nick Herbig or Preston Smith starting in his place, and the split of reps between them, remains to be seen.

Highsmith suffered a gruesome-looking left ankle injury late in the Steelers’ Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders two days ago, and is in a walking boot as he starts a recovery process that is expected to talk multiple weeks.

“You can characterize Alex Highsmith as out this week. We’ll take it week to week in terms of his availably,” head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday. “We’re excited about getting him back to us ASAP. But he won’t be available this week.”

Highsmith’s father reported on X on Tuesday that the linebacker has a low ankle sprain, nothing is broken, and that he will be out two to three weeks.

Second-year outside linebacker Nick Herbig is expected to play after missing the last three games with a right hamstring injury. But how much Herbig plays, and whether or not he’ll start, or it will be recent trade deadline acquisition Preston Smith, remains to be seen.

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rushers T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig celebrate after forcing a fumble of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Oct. 6, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

“Pretty comfortable that Herbig is going to be back this week,” he said. “He was at the doorstep of it a week ago, so I think it’s reasonable to be able to include him.”

Herbig has been out for a while, with the injury occurring on Oct. 6. He was a limited participant in practice last week on Wednesday and Thursday before missing practice. So how much he’ll be available to the Steelers is still somewhat up in the air.

“It makes it even cooler that we have a guy like Preston Smith under those circumstances,” Tomlin said of the other option to start at right outside linebacker, but Smith comes with his own caveats. He has had just one week of practice with the team and may not have had a chance to absorb the entire playbook as installed, let alone anything new the Steelers may want to put in for Ravens week.

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Smith also has not been playing a full workload with the Packers this season. He’s gone over 40 snaps just twice this season and actually played more snaps as a backup for the Steelers in Week 10 (23) than he had as a starter for the Packers in Week 9 (21).

So who will start and what will be the share of reps between Herbig and Smith?

“I have no idea,” Tomlin said. “Herbig’s not gotten himself fully in the boat yet, so I’d be speculating. … All of that will be determined after he gets really solid.”

Jeremiah Moon will once again be expected to serve as the team’s fourth outside linebacker. Moon played exclusively on special teams this past Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Preston Smith warms up before a game against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 10, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

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