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 may still consider bringing in a veteran pass rusher to fill the gap during his absence.
On September 27, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested former Buffalo Bills edge rusher Shaq Lawson as a “logical” option.
“With Yannick Ngakoue recently joining the Baltimore Ravens, Shaq Lawson has become a top option for teams needing pass-rushing help,” Knox wrote. “Lawson hasn’t posted notable stats since 2019 (6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss), but he’s shown he can contribute as a rotational player.”
“Last season with the Buffalo Bills, he recorded one sack, 10 quarterback pressures, and two tackles for loss while playing just 33 percent of the defensive snaps,” Knox continued. “At 30, Lawson has registered at least 3.5 sacks in five of his eight seasons, including 2022.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers insider Gerry Dulac reported that Highsmith is expected to miss “2-3 games” following his injury. However, should the team place him on IR before Week 4, Highsmith would be sidelined for at least four games.
The Steelers might not need to sign a free agent during Highsmith’s recovery, as second-year player Nick Herbig (two sacks, two tackles for loss in Week 3) seems capable of stepping in. Still, “Lawson would be a sensible addition if Pittsburgh wants more depth behind Herbig and third-year player DeMarvin Leal,” Knox acknowledged.
Lawson, a former first-round pick, has been steady throughout his career despite not quite living up to his draft status. He’s spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Bills, aside from brief stints with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. If signed, Pittsburgh would be his first stop outside the AFC East.
Though Lawson’s sack numbers are modest — 26.0 career sacks — he’s consistently reached 3.5 sacks in most seasons. He’s also tallied 42 tackles for loss, 77 QB hits, and seven forced fumbles. His veteran presence could bolster the Steelers’ turnover game.
Pro Football Focus recently graded Lawson’s 2023 campaign as his worst, explaining his availability late in the season. However, his overall career shows a well-rounded defender who can rush the passer and set the edge in the run game. Lawson has earned a run defense grade of 64.0 or higher in five of his eight seasons.
He’s also been a reliable tackler, aside from an outlier in 2019. In five seasons, Lawson recorded two or fewer missed tackles.
Would Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Bring in a Veteran During a Hot Start? Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made a comment on September 24 that might relate to this situation.
While discussing why rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson didn’t play in Week 3, Tomlin said: “It is very difficult to get on a moving train.”
“For instance, look at [defensive lineman] Dean Lowry,” Tomlin explained. “There’s a veteran who missed much of training camp, and it was the third game before he got an [appearance], even though he’d been healthy for three weeks. That challenge grows when you’re talking about a guy with no NFL experience like Roman.”
Lawson has plenty of NFL experience, but he also missed the entire preseason and training camp. The question remains: Would Tomlin bring someone like Lawson aboard in the midst of a 3-0 start? And if he did, how long would it take Lawson to fit into the Steelers’ rotation?
