Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith ruled out against Ravens, but Nick Herbig expected to return

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without one of their top pass rushers for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, as coach Mike Tomlin ruled out outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.

Tomlin characterized Highsmith, who injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of the 28-27 win at the Washington Commanders, as “week-to-week, in terms of his availability.”

Highsmith, who missed three games earlier this year with a groin injury, has 19 tackles and three sacks in six games this season. Tomlin added that he’s “pretty comfortable” that outside linebacker Nick Herbig will return from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 5.

Tomlin also said he expects cornerback Donte Jackson and wide receiver/punt returner Calvin Austin III to be available after leaving the Commanders game with injuries.

Immediate impact

Tomlin singled out newly acquired wide receiver Mike Williams and edge rusher Preston Smith, as well as the returns of center Zach Frazier and cornerback Cameron Sutton for their play in the Commanders win.

“The new guys have gotten attention and rightfully so, to provide immediate contribution as a cool thing,” Tomlin said. “I’m excited about watching those guys continuing to grow within our culture and find their space in it and hopefully that playmaking continues.”

Tomlin said “it’s reasonable” to expect that Smith and Williams could see increased roles in their second week with the Steelers. Williams caught a 32-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown, and Smith got a sack in the second half and could replace Highsmith in the lineup.

“I’m still getting to know him and how he learns specifically the detail component of his skill set in terms of how to best utilize it and position him to help us,” Tomlin said of Williams. “And so we’ll be evolving in that way. He’ll be evolved in that way, not only this week but in the upcoming weeks. And I think it’s safe to say the same for a guy like Preston, less so with a guy like Cam Sutton, because we have a shared experience with him in the past.”

Frazier, who missed two games with an ankle injury, helped draw an offsides penalty on fourth-and-1 at midfield in the final minute to clinch the victory.

“I didn’t think he showed a lot of rust, particularly for a guy that doesn’t have a great deal of playing experience,” Tomlin said, “and so was pleased with how he got back on the move.”

Not a ‘trick play’

Where Tomlin accepted blame for the failed fake punt in the first quarter against the Commanders, he took issue with labeling it a “gadget” or “trick” play in defending why he took the risk.

On fourth-and-15 from their own 16, the Steelers had a direct snap to personal protector Miles Killebrew, who threw a pass that was dropped by a wide-open James Pierre at the first-down marker. Tomlin said it went beyond trying to get a first down when the Commanders left Pierre unattended on the left sideline.

“We’re just not going to allow people to do unorthodox and potentially unsound things against us,” Tomlin said. “I’m not going to allow people to overstress our protection unit by leaving people uncovered. We’ve got people that are capable of throwing and catching the football.”

Tomlin said the Steelers have been working on the play since the spring, calling the decision one that is “steeped in our culture.”

“So our attitude about it is probably a little bit different than you might think,” Tomlin said. “Because of that, we’re not hoping and wishing. There’s nothing mystical. This is routine for us is, you know, a basic passing play, a running play or a base defense. We we’ve got that level of comfort in it. But, all of that being said, we didn’t execute it in that moment. And that’s what I took responsibility for.”

More worried about Zay than Diontae

When Tomlin talked about Baltimore’s offense, he spent time raving about one of the Ravens’ “spectacular” wide receivers with which he has great familiarity.

And it wasn’t the one Steelers fans expected.

Zay Flowers played at Boston College with Tomlin’s oldest son, Dino, so the Steelers coach said he saw “just about every game he played his last year in college.” Flowers has 50 catches for 688 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games this season.

“Man, his talents are special,” Tomlin said. “His ability to separate his run after his competitive spirit, his general playmaking. He can make plays in a lot of ways, and they distribute the ball to him in a lot of ways.”

When talking about players who have flipped sides in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, Tomlin failed to mention Diontae Johnson.

Johnson had 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in five seasons with the Steelers and was a Pro Bowl pick in 2021, when he had 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers traded Johnson to Carolina in March for Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick, and the Panthers dealt him to the Ravens on Oct. 29.

Johnson has one catch for 6 yards in two games with Baltimore.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t thought a lot about it,” Tomlin said of facing Johnson. “He’s not on a lot of their video. And so, you know, at this stage of the week, I don’t know that I weighed what he might mean to the matchup. They got more significant pieces with larger roles that are occupying my attention at this part of the week.”

Roster moves

The Steelers announced the signing of WR/PR Jamal Agnew and RB Jonathan Ward to the practice squad. They released OT John Leglue and WR Lance McCutcheon from the practice squad.