No one is happier that Pittsburgh Steelers' edge rusher, T.J. Watt has returned to the lineup than his counterpart, Alex Highsmith. The amount of attention that is devoted to the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year when he plays allows for other defensive players to have more opportunities to make big plays. That has absolutely been the case for the third-year pass rusher as he has 14 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles when Watt is on the field in 2022. The return of one of the NFL's best players on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints opened up a chance for Highsmith to ball out, and he did.
Steelers linebacker, Alex Highsmith (#56) lines up at the line of scrimmage during a 2022 regular season matchup against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Highsmith was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the team's 20-10 win over the Saints in Week 10. He had two sacks, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. No other player in the AFC was able to sack the quarterback twice during the week. The honors are another great accomplishment for Highsmith as he continues to have the best season of his career and potentially play himself into a second contract in Pittsburgh.
Alex Highsmith is your AFC Defensive Player of the Week!
— Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) November 16, 2022
Highsmith tallied five tackles, two sacks, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble vs. the Saints. It’s his first-career Defensive Player of the Week award
He has 36 tackles, 10 QB hits, 8.5 sacks, eight tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception. He legitimately has a chance to be voted as the team's MVP at season's end now that Minkah Fitzpatrick is missing more time due to an appendicitis. He definitely needs to say thank you to his buddy on the other side in Watt. There is no denying that he makes everyone on the field better when he plays.
Steelers linebackers T.J. Watt (#90) and Alex Highsmith (#56) run a drill during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The team now heads into a Week 11 game against division foe, the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers defense sacked Joe Burrow seven times in an overtime victory the first week of the season. The unit is almost at full strength and Watt and Highsmith could both be competing to win Defensive Player of the Week after the matchup. Cincinnati's offensive line will surely have its hands full on Sunday.
Congratulate Highsmith for his weekly honors in the comments below!
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