4 Steelers players who will be facing too much pressure in 2022
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers EDGE Alex Highsmith
Alex Highsmith is a player who hasn’t been talked about a lot after such a busy offseason for the Steelers, but he plays one of the most important roles on the team as a starting edge defender, and there is going to be a ton of pressure on his performance this year.
In 2021, Pittsburgh entered the year with Melvin Ingram alongside Highsmith to help share the load at outside linebacker, but Ingram was unhappy with his playing time and forced himself out the door.
Despite lacking depth on the edge last year and losing Taco Charlton in free agency, Pittsburgh elected to add help at the edge defender position both in the NFL Draft and free agency. Now the only somewhat competent option outside of Watt and Highsmith is Derrek Tuszka.
Highsmith will truly have a full-time role for a full NFL season for the first time in his career, and the team is counting on him to be effective across from T.J. Watt. If Watt were to go down with an injury, Highsmith would then become the lead man that must create pressure on the quarterback. Talk about an important role.