With Alex Highsmith out, Steelers backup OLBs prepare for larger role

Alex Highsmith was using a wheeled cart Wednesday, the idea being the device would make it easier for a man with an ankle sprain to get around the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room.

With Highsmith unable to play Sunday, the Steelers’ reserve outside linebackers face far different kinds of obstacles in their way of contributing in the upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens:

• Wednesday was just the eighth day since Preston Smith joined the team

• Nick Herbig hasn’t played in six weeks because of a hamstring injury

• Jeremiah Moon, a former Ravens player, has only fives games of experience as part of the Steelers defense — and he did not play a single defensive snap during this past Sunday’s game at Washington

“It’s just a next-man-up sort of deal,” Herbig said. “Whether that’s I am ready (to play) or not, I trust our coaches and trust the guys in the locker room to do the job.”

Herbig has missed four games. Coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday expressed optimism he would be cleared before Sunday. Herbig was listed as a full participant at Wednesday’s practice on the injury report.

Highsmith is expected to miss multiple games after he turned his left ankle in an attempt to sack the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels late during the Steelers’ 28-27 victory Sunday. Highsmith missed three games earlier this season because of a groin injury.

The absences of Highsmith and Herbig at one point coincided, meaning the Steelers had to rely heavily on practice-squad players Ade Ogundeji and Eku Leota as well as fast-track Moon back to the active roster off of injured reserve when he was recovering from a neck injury.

Moon started the Week 6 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders, part of a three-game stretch in which he averaged 29 defensive snaps. But in Washington after the addition of Smith five days prior and with Highsmith and star T.J. Watt healthy, Moon was limited to playing special teams.

Waived by Baltimore during its playoff run in January, Moon has no shortage of motivation if he’s called into action at outside linebacker.

“This is the best rivalry in NFL football,” Moon said.

A 10-year veteran, Smith was acquired by the Steelers with this exact circumstance in mind — a proven contributor in the event of an injury to Watt or Highsmith. Sunday was Smith’s 156th NFL game but first with the Steelers. In 23 snaps, he had three solo tackles — two for loss — and a sack to give him 69 1/2 in his career.

“I feel real comfortable in the system,” Smith said Wednesday after his fourth practice with the Steelers. “Last week, I was nervous, thrown into the fire and wondering if I’d learned these plays in less than a week. But after the first play I was out there I was knowing what I had to do, and I got back in the flow of playing football and being back out there. Even though it was a new team and new system I got into the flow: ‘OK, it’s just football. All that matters is just you doing your job and dominating.’ ”