Steelers Alex Highsmith Hopeful for Pro Bowl Call

PITTSBURGH — Alex Highsmith is not making plans for the week leading up to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 5.

Highsmith was named a Pro Bowl alternate after teammate T.J. Watt, Khalil Mack and Matthew Judon were all selected to the AFC squad for the event, which will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The event now takes place during the week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl, so any player whose team makes it to the final won’t be able to participate.

Highsmith said he’s keeping his week open, in case he gets the call to attend if one of the first three selections can’t go. But either way, he’s just satisfied to be in consideration.

“I’m just grateful to be able to have this opportunity to be where I am,” Highsmith said. 

Highsmith more than doubled his career sack total in his third season in 2022. He had two as a rookie in 2020, six in his first full season as a starter in 2021 and then exploded with 14.5 in 2022.

He doesn’t think he’s done growing, either.

“I’m just adding more stuff to my pass-rush game and continuing to get stronger,” Highsmith said. “Just really just put in the same work and even more work than I did all last offseason. I don’t ever want to get content. I don’t want to be someone that gets complacent about the season I had. I feel like I can always be better.”

It wasn’t until Jan. 31 that Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson were added to the Pro Bowl roster, but Highsmith doesn’t mind waiting to find out.

“That would be so cool,” he said.

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