HEADLINES

Alex Highsmith

Steelers Eyeing OLB Depth?

July 5th, 2022 at 10:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers did some work to improve their depth at multiple positions this offseason. One area that could still use some work is outside linebacker, and Mark Kaboly of The Athletic believes the Steelers will address the position in late August following final cuts.

The team is obviously set when it comes to their starting lineup. T.J. Watt is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, while former third-round pick Alex Highsmith is coming off a breakout year that saw him compile six sacks. That duo may be one of the best OLB tandems in the NFL,and Highsmith is hoping they can establish themselves as the best OLB grouping by taking his own game to another level.

“I definitely feel I can be more productive sacks-wise. This year hitting double digits is a main goal of mine. At least 10 or 12. Somewhere around there,” Highsmith told Tim Benz of TribLive.com. “Refining a lot of my game. Whether that’s pass-rushing or getting more physical in the run game. No matter how much of a jump I make, I feel like I can always get better.”

However, it’s the depth behind the starting outside linebackers that’s questionable. At the moment, the grouping of Derrek Tuszka, Genard Avery, Tuzar Skipper, Delontae Scott are currently slotted in to compete for backup reps at the position. The Steelers also brought in a pair of undrafted rookies at the position in T.D. Moultry and Tyree Johnson.

As Kaboly writes, the Steelers are looking to avoid the situation that happened against the Vikings last season, when neither of the two outside linebackers could suit up. The two players have been healthy throughout their career, but experienced depth would make an injury a bit more tolerable.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt To Miss Week 3

September 25th, 2021 at 1:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Ben Roethlisberger‘s pectoral injury will not deter him from suiting up Sunday, the Steelers will be without both their scrimmage yards leader (Diontae Johnson) and their best defender.

Pittsburgh declared T.J. Watt out for its Week 3 game against Cincinnati. Watt suffered a groin injury midway through the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Raiders. The All-Pro outside linebacker managed three limited practices this week and entered the weekend with a questionable designation, but the Steelers will give him the weekend off.

This will be only Watt’s second injury-related absence as a pro. He missed Week 3 of his rookie season, with a groin injury sidelining him for that 2017 contest as well.

Sunday’s Steelers front seven configuration will look quite different, with the team also declaring its other outside linebacker starter — Alex Highsmith — out. The second-year edge rusher is also battling a groin ailment. Stephon Tuitt is on IR, while the Steelers placed nose tackle Tyson Alualu on their injured list this week.

Watt and Highsmith’s absences will leave recent signing Melvin Ingram to spearhead Pittsburgh’s pass rush, which has led the NFL in sacks in each of the past four seasons. The Steelers’ injury issues represent a potential reprieve for a Bengals offensive line that has allowed Joe Burrow to be sacked 10 times through two games.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/20

July 22nd, 2020 at 5:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest draft pick signings. With rookies set to report to teams’ training camps this week, teams are busy on this front.

  • The Vikings were the busiest team in the draft, making 15 picks this year. They have been active signing them Wednesday. Beyond first-rounder Justin Jefferson, Minnesota has agreed to terms with second-round tackle Ezra Cleveland, fourth-round linebacker Troy Dye, fourth-round defensive tackle James Lynch and seventh-round offensive lineman Kyle Hinton. Cleveland, rumored as a possible late-first-round selection, will be groomed to become a near-future starter for the Vikings.
  • The Broncos began signing some of their picks, most notably getting third-rounders Michael Ojemudia and McTelvin Agim under contract. A cornerback, Ojemudia is set to compete for a starting job opposite A.J. Bouye; Agim profiles as D-line depth behind established starters this season. Denver also signed fourth-round tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, a Mizzou alum set to rejoin his former quarterback (Drew Lock) in the Mile High City. The Broncos also reached an agreement with seventh-round outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
  • Despite having T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree under contract, the Steelers used a third-round pick on outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. The Charlotte alum agreed to terms on his four-year rookie deal. Highsmith recorded 15 sacks at the mid-major program last season.
  • Packers third-round pick Josiah Deguara also agreed on his four-year rookie contract. Green Bay eschewed its wide receiver need throughout the draft, using Day 2 to add a running back (A.J. Dillon) and Deguara, who profiles as a tight end/fullback. The Cincinnati product surpassed 900 yards between his final two college seasons, totaling 12 touchdown grabs in that span.
  • Tennessee third-round running back Darrynton Evans signed his rookie deal as well. Evans looks set to replace Dion Lewis as the Titans‘ Derrick Henry change-of-pace back. The Appalachian State alum rushed for 1,480 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He added five receiving TDs.
  • The Giants used first- and third-round picks on tackles. The latter selection, UConn’s Matt Peart, agreed to the terms of his rookie deal Wednesday. Peart profiles as a developmental lineman, working behind expected starters Nate Solder and Andrew Thomas. He stands to join Cameron Fleming as depth for Big Blue.
  • Washington has agreed to terms with third-round running back/wideout Antonio Gibson, fourth-round receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden and fifth-round center Keith Ismael. Gibson and Gandy-Golden figure to be key parts of a Washington offense that is limited, beyond Terry McLaurin, in the passing game. Gibson totaled 1,104 yards from scrimmage at Memphis last season, while Gandy-Golden caught 20 touchdown passes in two years at Liberty.
  • Fourth-round Cowboys pick Reggie Robinson agreed to terms as well. The Tulsa cornerback joins a Cowboys team that lost Byron Jones in free agency. Dallas was active in an effort to replace the Pro Bowler, drafting Trevon Diggs in Round 2 and signing Daryl Worley.
  • Sixth-round Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, a Notre Dame alum, signed his Chargers contract Wednesday. Gillman joins a deep Bolts safety corps.
  • The Buccaneers drafted two running backs this year. On Wednesday, they agreed to terms with the second of those picks — seventh-rounder Raymond Calais. In addition to his work as a running back at Louisiana, Calais was a four-year kick returner for the Rajin’ Cajuns.