PITTSBURGH —As they head overseas, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be without Alex Highsmith for their Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland. The sixth-year outside linebacker is still nursing the high ankle sprain with which he left Week 2's 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks .
"You can characterize Alex Highsmith as 'out' this week with his ankle," Tomlin said Tuesday during a press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Highsmith initially tweaked his ankle during the Friday practice before the Seahawks game. He avoided being placed on the injured reserve, which would've kept him out for four games.
Alex Highsmith
Without Highsmith at its disposal, the Steelers forced five turnovers in a 21-14 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Highsmith's usual running mate, T.J. Watt , notched a pair of sacks. Cam Heyward , Derrick Harmon and Nick Herbig also pulled Patriots passer Drake Maye down.
Through two games this season, Highsmith has collected nine combined tackles, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. He's played in 79 games for the Steelers, starting 68, since being selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In that time, he's racked up 36.5 sacks, three interceptions and nine forced fumbles.
During training camp, Highsmith dealt with a groin injury suffered during a 1-on-1 drill. He healed quickly enough from that ailment to get back for the Steelers' season-opening win at the New York Jets . Herbig and rookie Jack Sawyer have both filled in during Highsmith's absence.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers' Defense Will Continue Wait for Alex Highsmith's Return
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