He is not even a dozen games into his pro career, and Alex Highsmith has been given the unenviable task of replacing half of the NFL’s best pass-rushing duo for the rest of the season.

The next-man up concept Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin preaches will be tested again with Bud Dupree heading to injured reserve with a torn ACL.

Highsmith, the third-rounder from Charlotte, is next in line, although at least one veteran on the Steelers defense is trying to alleviate any pressure the rookie might be feeling in the wake of Dupree’s season-ending injury.

Cornerback Joe Haden said replacing Dupree, who is tied for seventh in the NFL with eight sacks, is a “two-man job.”

With Highsmith moving into a starting role after serving as the top backup during the Steelers’ 11-0 start, his old role will be filled by Ola Adeniyi, the little-used third-year outside linebacker from Toledo.

“We have great confidence in them,” Haden said, comparing the situation to when Robert Spillane was summoned to start for Devin Bush. “We feel the same way with Highsmith and Ola. They are starters in waiting. They’re waiting for their opportunity. We have two All-Pro outside linebackers, so their chances are limited.

“Now, it’s about them getting more of an opportunity. When Highsmith is in there or when Ola is in there, they have been making plays. They’re always attentive in meetings, they know the assignments and are just waiting for the opportunity. I’m excited for them, but it’s going to be a two-man job. I don’t think one of them will be able to fill in for what Bud was doing.”

In the past two years, Dupree had emerged as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, giving the Steelers a strong bookend to accompany NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate T.J. Watt. Beginning with his breakthrough year in 2019, Dupree has ranked among the top 10 defensive players in sacks, forced fumbles and quarterback hits.

The Steelers drafted Highsmith with the expectation he might replace Dupree, who is playing on the franchise tag, in 2021. For the first 11 games, his playing time came whenever Dupree or Watt needed rest. That wasn’t often, given both starters have played 88% of all defensive snaps this season.

Highsmith’s most playing time came Nov. 1 at Baltimore when he logged 25 snaps as the Steelers deployed a fifth linebacker in an attempt to defend the Ravens’ NFL-best running game. He had his first NFL interception in that game, and his first sack came the following week at Dallas.

“He’s going to have to speed up a little bit,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said about Highsmith. “Ola is going to have to step up and Jayrone (Elliott). All three of those guys are going to have to step up because T.J. is going to need some rest also.”

Adeniyi’s career high in playing time were the 13 snaps he logged against Jacksonville last month, most coming in the fourth quarter with the 27-3 outcome decided. Elliott hasn’t taken a defensive snap in three appearances this year, and he was inactive the past two games.

Highsmith’s snaps varied from the left side of the defense when spelling Watt to the right side when Dupree required a break. Now, Highsmith will get his playing time on the right side, although Butler said the rookie could move to the left when Watt comes out. Adeniyi or Elliott then would play on the right side.

“We’re not certain where we are going to put him other than the fact that he is going to be playing as the starter for us right now,” Butler said. “We will see what happens as the games go along, as the season goes along with the other two guys in terms of giving rest and stuff like that and getting the rotation that we want in there.”

With the Steelers asking their outside linebackers to defend the run as well as drop into coverage, it can lead to information overload for a young player. It took Dupree several years before he completely grasped all three phases.

Based on what Butler saw from Highsmith in the first matchup against the Ravens, he is confident the rookie is a quick learner. Butler cited the interception Highsmith got early in the second half when he jumped a curl flat route. It helped swing momentum for the Steelers, who trailed by 10 points at intermission.

“They ran one play on him, he got to the sideline, and I told him, ‘You’ve got to see the end of the line of scrimmage so if that guys comes off the ball, it’s going to be a pass, and you need to get up under the pass,’ ” Butler said. “And then next time he does that, he intercepts the pass because he drops. Just doing what he’s supposed to do.”

“That’s the type of player he is. He’s not going to make the same mistake twice.”

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