The return of the defensive player of the year resulted in a defensive player of the week.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was honored by the NFL as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Wednesday, three days after Highsmith had a strip sack among two sacks during a 20-10 victory against the New Orleans Saints.
Highsmith’s big game came on the day T.J. Watt returned to the Steelers after a seven-game injury absence. Watt won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2021 but had not played since suffering a pectoral injury during the season-opening win at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Highsmith had three sacks in the opener, giving him five this season in the two games Watt has been available to complement him on the opposite side of the defense. Highsmith has 3½ sacks in the seven games Watt missed this season.
“It’s a cool feeling getting that (player of the week award),” Highsmith said, “but ultimately the only thing that matters to me is victories. If I can go out there and help the team be the best I can be, that’s my ultimate goal. I just know I have to be better come Sunday because we have a really good opponent coming in.”
Highsmith joins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Week 1) as Steelers who have won league weekly honors in 2022.
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