PITTSBURGH — Just five days after Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan exchanged a fifth-round pick for Mike Williams, the former New York Jets receiver validated the decision when he produced his first game-changing moment.
With less than three minutes remaining and the Steelers trailing the Washington Commanders by six, the 6-foot-4 veteran receiver reeled in the go-ahead touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to lift the Steelers to a 28-27 victory.
Now, as the Steelers brace for their first AFC North matchup of the season against the surging Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh will be counting upon its other deadline-day addition, edge rusher Preston Smith, to step into a larger role.
When the Steelers acquired Smith from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a seventh-round pick, the goal was to provide quality depth at one of the team’s most important position groups. A defense predicated upon pressure already had one of the NFL’s best starting tandems in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and a young, up-and-coming outside linebacker in second-year pro Nick Herbig. Smith made that position group four-deep, giving the Steelers an opportunity to rotate their rushers more regularly and have extra insurance in case of injury.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, the latter has unfolded.
During Sunday’s win, Highsmith was rushing the quarterback when he landed awkwardly on his ankle. He is now in a walking boot after suffering an ankle sprain that will keep him out a “couple of weeks,” according to a team source. Speaking Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin characterized Highsmith’s status as “week to week.”
“Makes it even cooler that we have a guy like Preston Smith under those circumstances,” Tomlin added.
Smith, who played 23 defensive snaps Sunday (36 percent) against the team that drafted him in 2015 and logged his first sack as a Steeler, will be one of the first players the team will count upon to fill Highsmith’s void.
“I’m just here to do my job. Nothing extra,” Smith said following Sunday’s win. “I can’t control what happens, how many plays I play, how they use me. I’m just here to do my job at a high level and do my best to help bring this team wins.”
With Smith in the fold and Herbig expected to return from the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 5, the Steelers have two different body types to fill different roles. Herbig has shown in his young career that he can be impactful, especially in obvious passing situations. However, at 6-2 and 240 pounds, he’s not quite as stout against the run.
By bringing in a 6-5, 265-pound outside linebacker like Smith, the Steelers now have more options for how to rotate players. Smith has the size and physicality to set the edge, which could make him the top candidate on run downs to fill Highsmith’s shoes. Smith described himself as “a violent edge rusher who can play the run.”
There’s certainly a track record of success. Over the first nine seasons of Smith’s career in Washington and Green Bay, he made a name for himself, racking up 66 sacks, more than 400 tackles and 69 tackles for loss. However, the Packers made a change at coordinator this offseason, bringing in Jeff Hafley. The shakeup on the staff also came with a shift in philosophy, as the Packers moved from the 3-4 defense that Smith played in for his first nine seasons to a 4-3 defense that asked him to put his hand in the dirt as a defensive end.
As Smith’s playing time and production dipped — he played 54 percent of snaps, the lowest percentage since his rookie season in 2015 — he ultimately decided to request a trade.
“I didn’t feel like I was being useful in the system and it wouldn’t cater to my playing style,” Smith said shortly after joining the Steelers. “I wasn’t surprised when I got the call. I got what I asked for. I’m at a great place with some great teammates. I’m excited for a new start, and I’m excited for the rest of the journey this season.”
Preston Smith forces it out!
📺: #GBvsMIN on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/cOt1Gy93Av pic.twitter.com/GFR74toGmv— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2024
In Pittsburgh, Smith is back in a 3-4 defense that will allow him to play to his skill set. He’s also surrounded by a well-compensated group that enters this week limiting opponents to 16.2 points per game, second-fewest in the league.
“Just being back in the (3-4) system, it’s like riding your favorite bike again,” Smith said.
Outside linebackers always play a critical role in a Steelers defense that loves to get after the quarterback. But that’s especially true this week as Pittsburgh prepares for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s top scoring offense.
Over the last several seasons, the Steelers have been one of the best teams in the league at limiting the dynamic quarterback. They are 4-2 against Jackson since he entered the league in 2018, including 4-1 in the last five games that Jackson appeared. (The Steelers also beat the Ravens in the season finale last year when the Ravens rested Jackson). Jackson hasn’t started and beaten the Steelers since October 2019.
A big part of that plan is to hit Jackson at every opportunity, especially when he carries out fakes during read-option plays and other quarterback keepers. With Derrick Henry now in the fold for the Ravens, the Steelers will also need a stout run defender who can set the edge and bring down one of the league’s most physical ball carriers. Smith will be relied upon in both situations.
“I’m gonna do everything in my power to prove them right and let them know that this wasn’t the wrong decision,” Smith said.
He’s not the only addition to the defense who might be thrust into a larger role. Defensive back Cameron Sutton re-joined the Steelers this week after serving an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from an allegation of domestic violence in Florida in March.
In his first game back, Sutton appeared on defense for 19 snaps (30 percent), playing inside as an extra defensive back in nickel and dime defenses. His versatility can provide depth at nickel, dime backer, outside corner and safety.
The Steelers might need to tap into that sooner than later. After starting outside corner Donte Jackson went down with a hamstring injury on Sunday, James Pierre stepped into his spot as an outside corner. But now that Sutton has another week to prepare, he might be an option outside.
In his first stint with the Steelers, Sutton often played outside in the base defense and then slid inside in sub packages. He’d be another option to fill in for Jackson in the event he can’t play on Sunday, although Tomlin expressed optimism that Jackson will be ready to face the Ravens.
(Photo of Alex Highsmith: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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