Alex Highsmith’s absence from the second day of Pittsburgh Steelers mandatory minicamp didn’t stay quiet for long.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported Highsmith’s absence, and Steelers senior communications director Burt Lauten quickly followed by noting that Highsmith was dealing with an illness.
"Alex Highsmith is not present today at practice due to an illness but will continue to be at the practice facility as he has been all offseason. Confirmed by me," Lauten wrote on X.
Even if true, it doesn’t erase the timing.
Highsmith’s name has been part of the Steelers’ contract conversation for months, especially with Pittsburgh trying to keep together an expensive outside linebacker room. The team already has T.J. Watt on a massive deal, and Nick Herbig’s new extension now changes the financial picture around Highsmith.
The ink was barely dry on the news when the "Still Curtain Podcast" went live to discuss.
Still Curtain managing editor Tommy Jaggi made it clear that he wasn’t trying to spin the absence into something it might not be, but acknowledged it's not hard to connect the dots.
“Before he got on [this podcast], Shayne [Kubas] called it ‘moneyitis,’” Jaggi said jokingly.
That line sums up the whole situation. Nobody’s reporting that, without question, Highsmith skipped practice because of his contract. But when a productive veteran misses a mandatory minicamp practice right after another player at his position gets paid, it becomes part of a broader discussion.
Alex Highsmith’s contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers now looks even more complicated
The Steelers have a real problem here, even if Highsmith’s absence was simply illness-related.
Jaggi noted that Highsmith had the best season of Pittsburgh’s edge group last year, yet he’s now making a fraction of what Watt earns and less than what Herbig’s set to make once his new money kicks in.
“We’re not going to speculate. Guy needs paid. He’s grossly underpaid compared to the market,” Jaggi said.
Still Curtain co-editor Shayne Kubas took it further, discussing Highsmith’s place in the room and arguing there’s a case to be made that Highsmith has become Pittsburgh’s most complete edge defender.
“You could argue right now pretty easily that he’s the best all-around player in the edge group with the way T.J. Watt played last year, realistically,” Kubas said.
Even for those who’d still put Watt first, Kubas said the argument is at least strong enough to understand why Highsmith could be wondering where he fits into the equation.
Kubas’ question (and probably Highsmith’s) was simple: if the Steelers are keeping this group together, what about Highsmith?
That’s where the Herbig deal makes things awkward. Herbig’s extension will top Highsmith's by roughly $8 million per season, while Watt is sitting at $41 million annually. Highsmith, meanwhile, has been a steady starter and one of the more complete defenders on the roster.
The Watt deal came up, with Jaggi saying Watt’s contract felt like Pittsburgh paying for reputation and the right to keep a franchise cornerstone around after a quieter finish to 2024.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Watt isn’t still one of the Steelers’ most important players. But it does put Highsmith’s deal into perspective.
For now, the Steelers have said Highsmith was sick. That may be the full story.
But the timing, the money, and the crowded edge room are going to keep this from feeling like more than a minicamp absence.
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