Training camp is where teams are forged—through sweat, repetition, adversity, and brotherhood. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, this annual rite of passage unfolds at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, a place where the grind is grueling but necessary.
While the Steelers have been making steady progress under head coach Mike Tomlin, Sunday brought an unwelcome development: outside linebacker Alex Highsmith went down with a groin injury during practice.
It's one of those moments you never want to see during camp. Highsmith, now entering his sixth NFL season, is no ordinary cog in the machine. He's not a depth player, nor is he someone Pittsburgh can afford to lose for long.
He’s a critical piece of Teryl Austin’s defense—a ferocious edge rusher, an emotional leader, and, most notably, the complement to T.J. Watt on the outside. Together, the two have become one of the most formidable pass-rushing duos in the league.
The injury occurred during a padded session on Sunday. Details on the severity remain scarce, with the team labeling his status as to be determined.
While that leaves some room for optimism, fans can’t help but feel a little uneasy. Highsmith has battled groin issues before; in 2024, a similar injury forced him to miss time. That lingering concern now resurfaces just weeks ahead of the regular season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Alex Highsmith healthy before the 2025 Season
In 2024, despite missing time, Highsmith still tallied six sacks and earned an impressive 13th-place ranking on Pro Football Focus’ Edge Defender list heading into this year. That speaks volumes about his impact when healthy.
He’s more than a stat sheet guy—he’s a disruptor, someone who makes quarterbacks nervous and offensive coordinators rethink their protection schemes.
From what I’ve seen and heard from camp, this year’s defense looks fast, physical, and hungry. Guys are flying around, roles are being defined, and competition is fierce across the depth chart. That’s all good news—but the defense is simply different without No. 56 on the field.
He brings a veteran’s presence and an undeniable energy that trickles down to the rest of the front seven.
READ MORE: Aaron Rodgers can’t ignore what’s happening at Steelers training camp
The silver lining here is timing.
With a little under a month remaining before the Steelers kick off the 2025 regular season, there is space for Highsmith to rest and recover. Groin injuries can be tricky—they require patience, careful rehab, and no shortcuts.
If there's any consolation, it's that the medical and training staff is experienced in managing these types of setbacks.
More importantly, Highsmith has been here before. He knows what the recovery process demands, and he’ll likely approach it with the same intensity he brings on Sundays.
Injuries are part of the NFL, especially in the crucible of training camp. But for Pittsburgh, this one stings. Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this franchise, it’s that resilience runs deep. They’ll adapt and adjust—but they’ll also be hoping their pass-rushing ace is back in uniform sooner rather than later.