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Steelers’ lead NFL in forced fumbles Ruled Out for Dublin Showdown vs. Vikings

Pittsburgh, PA — September 25, 2025 — The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 at Croke Park, Dublin, without star outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who has been officially ruled out due to a high ankle sprain sustained in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. The team confirmed Thursday that Highsmith, who also missed the Week 3 win over the New England Patriots, will not travel to Ireland for the NFL’s first regular-season game in the country.

Highsmith, 28, suffered the injury after playing just 10 snaps in the Seahawks’ 31-17 loss. He sat out Wednesday and Thursday practices, signaling a recovery timeline extending at least two more weeks. The third-round pick (2020, Charlotte 49ers) has battled injuries before, missing time in 2024 for groin and ankle issues and dealing with a groin injury during 2025 training camp. Despite limited action this season, Highsmith shone in Week 1 against the Jets, recording one sack and eight pressures over 57 snaps.

A standout in 2022, Highsmith led the NFL with five forced fumbles and notched a team-high 14.5 sacks, earning a four-year, $68 million extension in 2023. His career stats include 283 tackles, 30.5 sacks, and nine forced fumbles, making his absence a significant blow. The Steelers hope he returns after their Week 5 bye, potentially for Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns.

In Highsmith’s absence, Nick Herbig has stepped up, delivering a strip sack and eight pressures against the Patriots, where Pittsburgh (2-1) forced five turnovers. T.J. Watt, fresh off a $123 million extension, added two sacks, while rookie Jack Sawyer and DeMarvin Leal bolstered the pass rush. The defense, ranked fifth in yards allowed (386.0 per game) but 11th in points (25.7), remains effective but faces a tough Vikings offense led by Brian Flores.

Steelers Nation awaits Highsmith’s return to strengthen a unit battling injuries to Joey Porter Jr., DeShon Elliott, and Max Scharping. As Pittsburgh aims to maintain momentum in Dublin, Herbig and company must fill the void left by one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers.

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“My Cause My Cleats” shoes and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Emotional Tribute Just Hours Before Giants Game Leave Detroit Speechless – A Story That Brought Lions Fans to Tears
Detroit, Michigan – November 22, 2025 Just hours before kickoff against the Giants, Amon-Ra St. Brown sent an emotional explosion through Detroit. Not because of a highlight, not because of a tactical breakdown – but because of his brand-new “My Cause My Cleats.” A pair of cleats carrying a personal story so deep that it left the entire Lions Nation choking back tears right before the massive showdown with the New York Giants. Team sources say St. Brown dedicated these cleats to his cousin who has Down syndrome – someone who became an inseparable part of his childhood. She was the first in the family with the condition, and she was the one who taught St. Brown patience, compassion, and how to love people unconditionally. After their grandmother passed away, the St. Brown family took turns caring for her for many years. Those very days shaped the soul of the man wearing No. 14 today. Just hours before the game, St. Brown silenced the entire locker room when he explained the real reason behind the cleats: “I want the whole world to know my cousin’s story. She has always been the softest, brightest light in our family. If these cleats make even one person understand more, love more, or open their heart more to people like her, then that is the greatest gift I could ever give her today.” Those words spread across social media like wildfire and truly brought Lions Nation to tears. For this year’s campaign, St. Brown chose to support Best Buddies Michigan – the organization that helps individuals with intellectual disabilities integrate and find their place in the community. The cleats are designed in the organization’s signature colors and will be auctioned immediately after the game to raise funds for families with loved ones who have Down syndrome. In the middle of Detroit’s playoff race, St. Brown’s tribute showed once again what this city has always been proud of: the heart of this team is bigger than any stat line. Amon-Ra isn’t just bringing hope for a win into Ford Field. He’s bringing love for his family, love for the community, and love for a cousin who helped turn him into the kind, respected man all of Detroit looks up to.