Alex Highsmith's Parents Call Out Refs After Injury

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers only got to play little more than one quarter of football against the New England Patriots with star pass rusher Alex Highsmith on the field.
Highsmith left the game with 14:47 remaining on the second quarter clock after suffering a neck injury. Highsmith and a handful of other Steelers players lobbied with the officials as he walked off, saying he was held on the play and that argument spilled over onto Twitter, where Highsmith's mother, Pamela pleaded with officials for a holding call.
Highsmith's father, Sam expressed his frustration with the no-call as well and said that this is a regular occurrence for his son in games week by week.
"Just another day at the office for 56!" he said.
Before kickoff against the Patriots, Alex Highsmith had echoed a similar sentiment about his teammate, T.J. Watt, saying that officials let opponents get away with far too many holds on the superstar pass rusher.
Sam Highsmith posted again during the game, thanking fans for their well wishes directed towards his son, but also asking that they stay focused on positive things - like Alex's health, for example - instead of dogpiling on the team after a tough loss.
Thanks for the many thoughts and prayers for Alex!! For all of you consumed with being focused on the negativity, just remember that these are young men playing a game. Just imagine if it was your child or husband out there. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/02YBsSOlak
— Sam Highsmith (@HighsmithHigh5) December 8, 2023
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Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.
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