Steelers notes: Alex Highsmith fined for questionable roughing-the-passer call vs. Browns

Chris Adamski
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 4:35 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 4:35 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was fined by the NFL for roughing the passer for a hit on Dorian Thompson-Robinson during last week’s game at the Cleveland Browns.

Alex Highsmith’s roughing the passer infraction during last week’s game in Cleveland wasn’t the most egregious by any means. But while some Pittsburgh Steelers fans might argue Highsmith did not even deserve a flag for the play, the NFL still hit him with a fine.

Highsmith was docked $16,391 by the league for his hit of the Browns’ Dorian Thompson-Robinson with 3 minutes and 19 seconds left in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 13-10 win. That amount is set by the collective bargaining agreement, consistent with a first offense for roughing the passer.

How do the officials call this roughing the passer on #Steelers Alex Highsmith? #PITvsCLE (via @_MLFootball)pic.twitter.com/yZhxs2FAjo

— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) November 19, 2023

Highsmith wasn’t the only Steelers player fined for an action during last week’s game. Cornerback Patrick Peterson was assessed a $10,927 fine for his facemask penalty midway through the first quarter.

Cleveland’s Rodney McLeod was fined $7,319 for unnecessary roughness for an unspecified action during a second-quarter punt that was not penalized during the game.

Carpenter elevated again

For the third consecutive week, Tariq Carpenter was designated as an elevation from the Steelers practice squad to the gameday roster. An inside linebacker, Carpenter played only on special teams as a call-up during the Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 Steelers games.

Carpenter has been part of the organization since he was signed to the practice squad Sept. 2. He has been summoned since the Steelers lost two starting inside linebackers (Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander) to season-ending injury.

By rule, players are allowed only three practice-squad elevations per season. That means if the Steelers want to deploy Carpenter again they will have to sign him to their active roster.

The Steelers in recent weeks have added a handful of veterans to their ILB corps, including Blake Martinez’s signing to the active roster.

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.