The prospect of having a full complement of outside linebackers — an injury-plagued position for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season — made Mike Tomlin flash a smile during his weekly news conference.
Tomlin said he will “fully expect” starter Alex Highsmith to be available for the first time in four weeks when the Cleveland Browns (3-9) visit the Steelers (9-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
“It’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?” Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Highsmith, who has 19 tackles (10 solo) and three sacks in five games this season, missed the past three games after injuring his left ankle in the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders in Week 10.
With the return of Highsmith opposite T.J. Watt and the impactful play of Nick Herbig and Preston Smith, who was acquired from the Green Bay Packers last month at the trade deadline, the Steelers now have the prospect of deploying four healthy outside linebackers as pass rushers.
“You can’t run out of rush men, particularly in December,” Tomlin said. “So it’s exciting. Make no mistake, there’s enough work for all parties involved and we’re excited about sorting that out as we prepare.”
Putting pressure on the passer will be vital, especially with Browns quarterback Jameis Winston coming off a game in which he passed for a career-high 497 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Winston also had three interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns.
Tomlin raved about Browns first-year offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and how he has taken advantage of Winston’s playmaking ability by utilizing the surrounding talent, especially running backs Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku.
“If you saw the game last night, man, you saw what they’re capable of with Dorsey as a play caller and Winston as a quarterback,” Tomlin said. “There was some explosive play making. They went up and down the field. … And that’s what I meant when I describe him as a as a gunslinger a couple of weeks ago when we played him.”
Winston completed 18 of 27 passes for 219 yards with an interception and ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter when the Browns beat the Steelers, 24-19, on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 12.
“He’s got unbelievable arm talent,” Tomlin said of Winston, who was selected No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay in 2015. “He was the first pick in the draft. And you’re not the first pick in the draft for no reason, man. He’s got arm strength. He’s got accuracy. He’s got to trajectory. He can place the ball just about anywhere on the field.
“He’s a big-time competitor, to boot. He never turns down competition. You know, he’s going to fight to win possession downs and things of that nature. Man, we got to do a really good job of matching that competitive spirit, making our plays, knowing that there’s a potential that could give some up when a guy comes at you the way he does and with the with the amount of weaponry that he has at his disposal.”