Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith Leaves Game with Ankle Injury, Doubtful to Return

PITTSBURGH — Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has left the team’s Wild Card Round playoff game against the Cleveland Browns with an ankle injury and is doubtful to return, the team announced.

Highsmith suffered the injury in the first half and attempted to return to play, but was unable to continue.

He was replaced on the field by a combination of third-year backup Ola Adeniyi and Cassius Marsh, who was signed from the Indianapolis practice squad in December.

Highsmith had been replacing starter Bud Dupree, who was lost for the season to an ACL injury.

In the regular season, Highsmith appeared in all 16 games and made five starts. He had two sacks, five tackles for loss, one interception and one pass defended.

The rookie out of Charlotte was the Steelers’ third-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.