Alex Highsmith’s absence from Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp is naturally going to raise eyebrows, especially one day after Pittsburgh made a major investment at outside linebacker.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday on X that Highsmith wasn’t at practice for the second day of the Steelers’ mandatory three-day minicamp. Fittipaldo cited a league source in confirming the veteran outside linebacker’s absence.
It was later clarified by Steelers senior director of communications, Burt Lauten, that Highsmith has an "illness."
Maybe?
Sources: 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. https://t.co/8n4sHF1awT
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) June 3, 2026
But it’s the timing that’s hard to ignore.
The Steelers just extended Nick Herbig on Tuesday, locking up another key piece of their outside linebacker room. Herbig was entering the final year of his rookie contract and coming off a season that made his value impossible to ignore.
That also made Highsmith’s future a natural part of the conversation. His potential trade had been bandied about for months (especially after time had come and gone to get true value in exchange for Watt). Herbig’s extension only made the writing on the wall more in focus.
Alex Highsmith’s absence comes at a notable time for Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith has been one of Pittsburgh’s most steady defensive players since arriving as a third-round pick in 2020. He’s developed from a promising rotational rusher into a legitimate starting outside linebacker opposite T.J. Watt, and his production backs that up.
Highsmith finished the 2025 season with 50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three passes defended and one forced fumble in 13 games. That came after a 2024 season in which he still produced six sacks despite missing time.
The Steelers value edge rushers as much as any team in football, and Highsmith has been a significant part of that identity. He’s strong against the run, reliable in coverage when asked, and productive enough as a pass rusher to be more than just the other guy next to Watt.
But it appears Herbig’s extension could tweak the story’s ending.
Pittsburgh now has significant money tied to Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig. Something has to give. That’s a good problem from a football standpoint, but it’s still a problem from a money aspect. Herbig’s rise gave the Steelers another starting-caliber option off the edge, and that’s why questions about Highsmith’s long-term place have made sense for months.
None of that means Highsmith’s absence is automatically contract-related or trade-related. It’d be irresponsible to jump there without more information, but if it talks like a duck and walks like a duck… it’s not a squirrel.
The optics are obvious.
A day after Herbig got paid, Highsmith wasn’t on the field. For a Steelers team already sorting through Joey Porter Jr. and multiple other contract situations, that’s enough to make this one of the most interesting storylines of minicamp. For however long it lasts. Herbig missing minicamp lasted less than 24 hours. If it is trade talks rather than an "illness," will it be hasty in Highsmith’s scenario, too?
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