Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Highsmith shows out in Hall of Fame Game

Alex Highsmith showed his pass rush potential in the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame Game win.

The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated in all three phases Thursday night, beating the Dallas Cowboys in the first preseason game of the year 16-3. There were excellent performances all around. Josh Dobbs played pretty well at quarterback, Chase Claypool looks ready to pick up where he left off, and Kalen Ballage might have an inside track at the RB2 role. Another great performance came from edge rusher Alex Highsmith.

Highsmith was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, at pick 102 overall. In his role as a situational edge rusher in the 2020 season, Highsmith had two sacks, an interception, five tackles for a loss, and six quarterback hits. Many believed he would slide into a starting role in 2021, but the signing of Melvin Ingram gives Highsmith some more time to come along with his development.

Thursday was a good start for that, as Highsmith showed off his ability as a rusher. He executed a brilliant spin move against Ty Nsekhe for a sack, taking advantage of the overset by Nsekhe. Highsmith also created some pressure with his quickness and athleticism as well.

Run defense is something that needs to continue to improve, as he struggled a bit against the tight ends, but he did a great job with backside pursuit, leading to a tackle for loss.

It’s a start for Highsmith, who should get plenty of work for the Pittsburgh Steelers all preseason long. Those reps will be crucial in his development, as he didn’t get an offseason to prepare last year.

Highsmith is already making strides, which is great to see. He’s continuing to develop an arsenal of moves and plays with good closing speed. Better work against the run will only increase snaps for Highsmith down the road in the regular season, and that’s something the Pittsburgh Steelers will need. His development will be enjoyable to watch.