The Pittsburgh Steelers lost pass rusher Alex Highsmith to a groin injury in Week 3. While the team hasn’t placed him on injured reserve, they might still look for a veteran addition to cover his absence.
On September 27, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested former Buffalo Bills edge rusher Shaq Lawson as a “logical” choice.
“With Yannick Ngakoue joining the Ravens, Shaq Lawson stands out as one of the best options for teams needing pass-rushing help,” Knox noted. “While Lawson hasn’t posted strong numbers since 2019 (6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss), he has proven himself as a reliable rotational player.” Last season with Buffalo, he had a sack, 10 quarterback pressures, and two tackles for loss despite playing just 33% of defensive snaps. The 30-year-old has recorded at least 3.5 sacks in five of his eight NFL seasons, including 2022.”
According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, Highsmith is expected to miss “2-3 games” due to his injury, but an IR designation would sideline him for at least four games. Knox later acknowledged that second-year player Nick Herbig, who had two sacks and two tackles for loss in Week 3, might be able to fill the gap in the meantime. However, he concluded that Lawson would still be a sensible signing for added depth behind Herbig and third-year player DeMarvin Leal.