PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have a return date for outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.
Highsmith suffered a groin injury late in the first half of the team’s Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium on Sept. 22. He missed last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts and has already been ruled out for the team’s Week 5 home game this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
According to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show, the Highsmith is expected to miss one more game after that, and the Steelers are targeted a return for their Week 7 game against the New York Jets on Oct. 20.
That would mean entire month missed for Highsmith, but the Steelers have good reason to be cautious in his return this time around. Highsmith initially injured the groin during training camp and sat out the entire preseason before returning for Week 1.
Nick Herbig was the first man up to replace Highsmith, with the 2023 fourth-round draft pick making his first career start against the Indianapolis Colts. But Herbig suffered an ankle injury in the game, forcing defensive end DeMarvin Leal to play outside linebacker for most of the second half.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he expects Herbig to be able to play this week. He was limited in practice on Thursday after being held out on Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon is eligible to come off the injured reserve list and has returned to practice this week. He has been a full participant in each session so far in his return from a preseason high ankle sprain.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
| DT Larry Ogunjobi | Groin | Oct. 3 | Unknown | Active, LP on Thurs. |
| RB Cordarrelle Patterson | Ankle | Sept. 29 | Day to day | Active, DNP on Thurs. |
| OLB Nick Herbig | Ankle | Sept. 29 | Day to day | Active, LP on Thurs. |
| DT Keeanu Benton | Ankle | Sept. 29 | Day to day | Active, FP on Thurs. |
| RG James Daniels | Achilles | Sept. 29 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RB Jaylen Warren | Knee | Sept. 22 | Day to day | Active, DNP on Thurs. |
| OLB Alex Highsmith | Groin | Sept. 22 | Two weeks | Active, DNP on Thurs. |
| CB Cory Trice Jr. | Hamstring | Sept. 22 | Three weeks | Injured reserve |
| RT Troy Fautanu | Right knee dislocation | Sept. 20 | Regular season | Injured reserve |
| TE MyCole Pruitt | Right knee | Sept. 15 | Day to day | Active, DNP on Thurs. |
| WR Ben Skowronek | Shoulder | Sept. 15 | Two weeks | Injured reserve |
| LB Tyler Matakevich | Hamstring | Sept. 15 | Two weeks | Injured reserve |
| P Cameron Johnston | Right leg | Sept. 8 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| QB Russell Wilson | Calf tightness | Sept. 5 | Day to day | Active, LP on Thurs. |
| LG Isaac Seumalo | Pectoral strain | Aug. 28 | Day to day | Active, FP on Thurs. |
| SS Ryan Watts | Necke | Aug. 24 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| DL Logan Lee | Calf | Aug. 20 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| OLB Jeremiah Moon | Right high ankle sprain | Aug. 17 | Day to day | IR-Return, FP on Thurs. |
| OT Dylan Cook | Lisfranc, left foot | Aug. 17 | Week to week | IR-Return |
| C Nate Herbig | Torn rotator cuff | Aug. 14 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| OLB David Perales | Left MCL tear | July 31 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee | Nov. 2, 2023 | Week to week | PUP/reserve |