Sophia
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 without one of their defensive stalwarts. Star outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has officially been ruled out for the crucial international clash, a significant blow to a Steelers defense looking to find its footing.
Highsmith’s Absence Confirmed for Ireland Game
The Steelers confirmed via their official X (formerly Twitter) account that Alex Highsmith, battling an ankle injury, would not travel with the team to Ireland. Highsmith had been a non-participant in practice throughout the week, making his exclusion an expected, though unwelcome, development.
LB Alex Highsmith (ankle), who did not practice on Wednesday, Sept. 24, or Thursday, Sept. 25, will not travel with the team to Ireland and has been officially ruled out of Sunday’s game vs. Minnesota.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 26, 2025
Head coach Mike Tomlin had previously indicated Highsmith’s unlikeliness to play during his press conference earlier in the week. The 28-year-old sustained an ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks and has not seen the field or practiced since. While he has avoided a stint on the reserve/injured list, his timeline for return remains unclear. The hope within the organization is that Highsmith could be back after Pittsburgh’s Week 5 bye, potentially eyeing a return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
A History of Injuries
This isn’t Highsmith’s first encounter with injuries. He grappled with a groin issue during training camp in early August, which sidelined him for several weeks before he returned just in time for Week 1. In the 2024 season, Highsmith missed three games due to a separate groin ailment and another three with an ankle injury. Prior to that, he had been remarkably durable, never missing a game in his first four years after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Impact on the Steelers Defense
Highsmith’s absence is particularly felt given his strong start to the season. In the opener against the New York Jets, he was a standout performer, recording a sack and eight pressures across 57 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He logged no pressures in 10 snaps before his injury against the Seahawks.
The Steelers’ defense has struggled early in the season, currently allowing the fifth-most yards (386.0) and 11th-most points (25.7) per game. However, the team boasts considerable talent at outside linebacker to help mitigate Highsmith’s absence.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, who signed a massive three-year, $123 million extension just before training camp, had his best performance of the season last week against the New England Patriots, registering two sacks. Rookie Nick Herbig also stepped up admirably, contributing six pressures, four quarterback hits, and a sack.
While Highsmith’s dynamic presence will be missed, the Steelers will rely on the depth and star power of Watt and the emerging talent of Herbig to pressure Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and contain their offense in this critical Week 4 matchup across the Atlantic.
Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!
