PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin said after the Ravens game on Sunday when the game got thick, they really felt Alex Highsmith’s presence. The defense is going to need more of that Monday as TJ Watt won’t play with a lung situation.
Highsmith not only had the game-ending sack of Lamar Jackson in that rivalry matchup, but a season-high seven solo tackles, three tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hits.
“I think you saw it last game,” said linebacker Nick Herbig. “That’s a clear representation of who he is. The type of plays he provides, the type of splash he makes. Game on the line, you go make a play for us. That’s who Alex is. That’s who he’s been his whole career. There is a reason he’s been here as long as he has and why he’s had multiple contracts. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a Pro Bowl or none of that, that dude is a baller. Love seeing him healthy and balling out. We know that’s what he does. We all know that.”
“He’s one of the best edge rushers in the league,” said linebacker Jack Sawyer. “When Alex is healthy, he is a difference-maker, like you saw last week as well.”
To focus on his impact on the season in only nine games, he is second on the team with 6.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits and a forced fumble all despite batting groin, ankle and pec injuries from training camp until today.
“When he's healthy, boy, he's good,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “I thought he was really good last week. Obviously, everybody remembers the sack to end the game, but the dirty work stuff he did all game in terms of setting the edges and really being physical at the point of attack, that is the stuff that he really brings.”
“Just the biggest thing for him is to stay healthy. When he stays healthy, that's the kind of player he is. Hopefully, knock on a little bit of wood, we'll keep him healthy for the rest of the year, and that will be a really good thing for us.”
“Just knowing him as a person and how strong his faith is, every single day he comes into work super early,” said Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. “He’s always got a smile on his face; he’s never down. If he is, it might be like a two-second down period, and then he’s back to smiling and stuff. Dude is an absolute dog. He comes in every single day, like I said, with a smile on his face, ready to work, there early, and that’s something we can all feed off of.”
“Alex is one of those players that can play run and pass,” said Steelers captain Cam Heyward. “There is not a deficiency in his game. The conversations we have in studying our opponents, he’s really just stepped that up this year especially. We are going to need more of it. We look for him to step up as a leader in that group.”
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Walter Payton nominee
Highsmith is not only someone who has leadership skills on the field, he’s the Steelers nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, that Heyward won last year.
“It means a lot,” Highsmith said. “I’m just so humbled, so grateful to be the nominee for the Steelers. A lot of the things that I do in the community, it’s not about the recognition. I feel like I have a servant heart. I was raised that way to have a servant heart. The main reason I have this platform is to be a blessing for others.”
“Knowing that my purpose here goes far beyond the field, far beyond football. Football is what I do, it’s not who I am. My identity is in Christ and who He says I am. Everything I do is to bring glory to Him.”