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Steelers Place Star LB Alex Highsmith on IR After Brutal Ankle Injury

Pittsburgh Steelers' star pass rusher on crutches after suffering ankle  injury - pennlive.com

Pittsburgh, PA – September 14, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken a brutal hit to their defense. Star linebacker Alex Highsmith has officially been placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Sunday’s 24–17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the diagnosis postgame, describing it as a “serious setback.” Highsmith is expected to miss four to six weeks, sidelining him through a critical stretch of the schedule.

The injury occurred in the second quarter, forcing Highsmith out after recording just one tackle. His absence only deepened the frustration of a day defined by miscues — from special teams blunders to Aaron Rodgers’ late interception that sealed Pittsburgh’s defeat.

Through two games this season, Highsmith has notched five tackles and one sack, but his leadership alongside T.J. Watt has been invaluable. Coming off a 2024 campaign with 45 tackles and six sacks, he had firmly established himself as a cornerstone of the defense.

Now, with Highsmith on IR, the Steelers will have to rely on depth pieces and practice-squad call-ups to fill the void. Younger players will be thrust into the spotlight, facing the immediate challenge of a Week 3 matchup against the New England Patriots.

The Seahawks wasted no time exploiting Pittsburgh’s struggles, including a bizarre kickoff miscue by rookie Kaleb Johnson that directly led to a touchdown. It was the kind of afternoon that underscored how thin the margin for error has become for the Steelers.

For a proud franchise built on defensive identity, this loss is a gut punch. How Pittsburgh responds without one of its leaders will go a long way in determining whether this season survives the storm — or sinks under the weight of mounting injuries.

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Steelers Linked To Saints SuperStar With 5x Pro Bowl & 2x All-Pro in Blockbuster Trade
Pittsburgh, PA — According to a  circulating on X (Twitter), the Pittsburgh Steelers have been “linked” to Alvin Kamara—the New Orleans Saints superstar, five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro—as a potential target ahead of the trade deadline. The speculation has heated up as various outlets have also floated Kamara as a logical “fit” should the Steelers look to add a versatile, late-season playmaker on offense. At 30, Kamara is a rare dual-threat RB who excels as both a runner and receiver. He tied the NFL single-game record with six rushing touchdowns (Christmas Day 2020 vs. the Vikings), and he has recently been recognized as the Saints’ all-time leader in rushing yards. Across his career: 5× Pro Bowl, 2× Second-Team All-Pro, and a skill set that meshes with Pittsburgh’s motion/spacing concepts—screens, angle/choice routes, safe check-downs, and short play-action. Tactically, if a move ever materialized, Kamara would immediately put stress on short-to-intermediate coverages, force defenses to roll a safety, and give Pittsburgh intriguing two-back looks alongside Najee Harris on 3rd-and-medium and in the red zone. In this hypothetical scenario, Kamara voices a desire for a fresh challenge after hitting so many personal milestones in New Orleans: “I’ve achieved just about everything with the Saints, and I want a new challenge for myself. What could be better than a team competing directly for a Super Bowl? Just thinking about wearing Black and Gold really excites me.” As of now, there has been no official confirmation from the Steelers or the Saints regarding any talks. Still, Kamara’s résumé and toolbox explain why his name is quickly paired with Pittsburgh whenever rumors of an offensive upgrade surface. With 5× Pro Bowls, 2× All-Pro honors, and a proven knack for tilting games as both a runner and receiver, even a whisper on social media is enough to make Steelers Nation perk up.