When the Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Seattle Seahawks last month before heading into their bye, the game had the makings of a breakthrough performance for Alex Highsmith.

The second-year outside linebacker contributed 1 1/2 sacks, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and seven tackles in the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime victory.

In the two games since the Steelers resumed play, Highsmith hasn’t matched that level of success. The statistics show it, and Highsmith is aware of it.

“I’m not happy with the way I’m playing, production-wise,” Highsmith said after practice Wednesday when the Steelers began on-field preparations for their game Sunday against the Detroit Lions. “I know I’m starting to see the game, it’s starting to slow down for me, but production-wise, I know I can be a lot better.”

Since that game against Seattle, Highsmith hasn’t generated a sack and has recorded just one tackle for a loss and two quarterback hits.

Not exactly what Highsmith had in mind for the midpoint of his first full season as a starter. Particularly not when the other outside linebacker, All-Pro T.J. Watt, is second in the league with 11.5 sacks.

“I know I can produce better than I have been,” he said. “I know I’m going to start doing that. I’ll continue to work, continue the effort, study more film, do what I can do extra to help me produce more.”

On Monday night, when the Chicago Bears rallied for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter before the Steelers pulled out a 29-27 victory, Highsmith was out of position on at least one of those scores. On wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s 15-yard handoff from David Montgomery in the wildcat formation, Highsmith didn’t see the exchange and chased down Montgomery, which permitted Mooney to break free for the score.

Highsmith also was forced around quarterback Justin Fields on the 16-yard touchdown pass to Mooney that put the Bears in front 27-26 with 1:46 remaining.

“I’m very critical of myself,” Highsmith said. “I always have been. I feel like that is what has gotten me to where I am to date. I know I’m not fully happy with my performance right now. I know I can do better, and I will do better.”

The Steelers showed enough faith in Highsmith, their third-round pick in 2020 out of Charlotte, that they acquiesced to veteran pass rusher Melvin Ingram’s trade demands at the deadline. Ingram’s displeasure arose after Highsmith played every snap against the Seahawks while Ingram was on the field for just 17 plays.

After the Steelers sat Ingram against Cleveland, they traded him to Kansas City for a sixth-round draft pick.

“We feel like we’ve got the best two guys starting for us right now in T.J. and Alex and felt it then, too,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said last week. “I don’t know if we’d sit there and say he’s the second guy behind T.J. I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that at all.”

If Ingram felt animosity about playing behind Highsmith, he never showed it to his former Steelers teammate.

“It really (stinks) the Melvin situation didn’t work out because he was a great guy,” Highsmith said. “Ever since he got here. I was thankful for everything he showed me, coming in, being a guy from North Carolina like I am. It (stinks) the situation didn’t work out.”

Highsmith’s production is not only overshadowed by Watt’s accomplishments a year after he finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. It’s a drop-off from what the Steelers got last season when Bud Dupree had eight sacks in 11 games before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. That injury paved the way for Highsmith to take on a starting role in the defense.

“Ultimately, I just try to do my job,” Highsmith said. “I know if I do my job, the plays will come. I’m going to try to continue to give a full-out effort, and when the situations do present themselves, just take them.”

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