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