Pittsburgh Steelers Face Injury Concerns Ahead of Bengals Match

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently facing significant injury concerns as they prepare for their Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. According to Behind the Steel Curtain, star edge rusher Alex Highsmith has missed his second straight practice due to a pectoral injury, which raises doubts about his availability for the crucial game on Sunday.

Highsmith's absence is particularly concerning given his recent performance, where he recorded four sacks and a forced fumble over the last two games. Steelers Now reports that Highsmith was not listed on the injury report earlier in the week by head coach Mike Tomlin, who noted that some players might miss practice due to minor bumps and bruises.

However, Highsmith's continued absence from practice could indicate a more serious issue. In his previous outings, he played 72.6% of the team's defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers and did not appear to be injured during that game.

This season, Highsmith has already missed two games with an ankle injury, which adds to the concern regarding his health. If Highsmith is unable to play, rookie Nick Herbig is expected to step in again, as he has done in previous instances when Highsmith was unavailable.

The full injury report reveals other players dealing with various ailments, including cornerbacks Darius Slay and Cory Trice Jr., both of whom did not practice, and several limited participants such as linebacker Cole Holcomb and guard Isaac Seumalo.

Notably, left tackle Broderick Jones returned to practice on a limited basis, which is a positive sign for the offensive line. The Steelers' upcoming game against the Bengals is critical for their playoff aspirations, making the health of their key players even more vital.

With the injury situation developing, the Steelers are looking to find a way to maintain their competitive edge despite these setbacks.