2023 SEASON
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Solo6
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SCK1
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FF1
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INT1
Defense
Days
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Sundays | 3 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Months
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 3 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Opponents by Group
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs AFC Teams | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| vs NFC Teams | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outside Own Division | 3 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| vs Own Division | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Opponents by Team
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Houston Texans | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Outcomes
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Losses | 2 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wins | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Stadiums
| G | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | TDS | YDS | AVG | LNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegiant Stadium | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NRG Stadium | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Acrisure Stadium | 2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Biography
PRO CAREER
- Has played in 49 games (38 starts) in his NFL career
- Has registered 179 tackles (110 solo), 32 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 41 quarterback hits, one interception, two passes defensed and six forced fumbles
- Has recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
- Ranks first in strip sacks (five), first in forced fumbles (six) and tied for second-most in sacks (17.5) in his last 20 games dating back to Week 16 of the 2021 season
- Has recorded seven multi-sack games in his career
- Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2020 (at N.Y. Giants)
- Made NFL starting debut in week 13 of 2020 (vs. Washington)
PRO CAREER
- Has played in 49 games (38 starts) in his NFL career
- Has registered 179 tackles (110 solo), 32 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 41 quarterback hits, one interception, two passes defensed and six forced fumbles
- Has recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
- Ranks first in strip sacks (five), first in forced fumbles (six) and tied for second-most in sacks (17.5) in his last 20 games dating back to Week 16 of the 2021 season
- Has recorded seven multi-sack games in his career
- Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2020 (at N.Y. Giants)
- Made NFL starting debut in week 13 of 2020 (vs. Washington)
2022 (STEELERS)
- Played in 16 regular-season games (16 starts)
- Registered 63 tackles (38 solo), 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, 14.5 sacks and one pass defensed
- Ranked first on the team in sacks and forced fumbles
- Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss and quarterback hits
- His 14.5 sacks were tied for sixth-most in the NFL, fourth-most in the AFC and fifth-most in single-season franchise history
- His five forced fumbles were tied for first in the League
- His four strip sacks were tied for second-most in the League
- Registered career highs in sacks (3.0) and quarterback hits (four) in Week 1 at Cincinnati
- Added on nine tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss and a forced fumble that was recovered by DT Cameron Heyward in Week 1 at Cincinnati
- Recorded the fifth multi-sack game of his career with 1.5 in Week 3 at Cleveland, along with eight tackles (six solo), two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss
- Strip sacked QB Tom Brady in a Week 6 victory vs. Tampa Bay
- Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 10 vs. New Orleans where he registerered five tackles (three solo), 2.0 sacks, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one forced fumble
- Notched his fourth strip sack of the season in Week 12 at Indianapolis
- Took down QB Deshaun Watson for 2.5 sacks in the season finale vs. Cleveland along with eight tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits
2021 (STEELERS)
- Played in 16 regular-season games (16 starts)
- Registered career highs in tackles (74 total, 46 solo) and tackles for loss (15)
- Added on 15 quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks and one forced fumble
- Inactive due to a groin injury in Week 3 vs Cincinnati
- Registered the first multi-sack game of his career with 1.5 takedowns of QB Geno Smith in Week 6 vs Seattle and repeated the feat in Week 11 at the Los Angeles Chargers
- Recorded the first game of his career with double-digit tackles (11) in Week 10 vs Detroit
- Left the Week 14 game at Minnesota with a hamstring injury and did not return
- Notched the first strip sack of his career on QB Patrick Mahomes in Week 16 at Kansas City
- Recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks in Week 17 vs ClevelandÂ
2020 (STEELERS)
- Played in 16 games (five starts)
- Registered 42 tackles, 26 solo stops, five tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, one interception and one pass defensed
- Recorded six tackles (four solo) on special teams
- Reached a career high in special-teams tackles with three in Week 6 vs. Cleveland
- Recorded the first sack of his career in Week 9 at Dallas
- Entered the starting lineup in Week 13 vs. Washington
- Intercepted his first career pass in Week 8 at Baltimore
COLLEGE
- Four-year letterwinner at Charlotte (2015-19)
- Owns school records for sacks in a game (4.5), season (14.0) and career (20.0) and tackles for loss in a game (5.0) and season (21.5)
- Ranks second in school history with 46.0 tackles for loss and fifth with 185 career tackles
- 2020 NFL Combine participant
- Named to the 2020 NFL All-Combine Team as an edge rusher
- 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl
- 2019 Third Team All-America by both AP and Pro Football Focus
- First 49er to earn all-America honors
- 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl
- 2018 and 2019 First Team All-Conference USA (coaches)
- First 49er to be named first-team All-C-USA twice
- 2019 First Team All-C-USA by PFF and Phil Steele
- Ranked fourth in the nation in sacks (14.0) and fifth in tackles for loss (21.5) in 2019
- Named to PFF's 2019 All-Draft Stock Team for those players whose draft stock rose the most this season
- Starting DE in 49ers' first-ever bowl game (2019 Bahamas Bowl)
- 2019 Team Captain
- 2019 Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year) Watch List
- 2019 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
- 2018 first-team all-C-USA by PFF and second team by Phil Steele
- Joined the 49ers for the 2015 season as a walk-on
- Earned scholarship during the summer of 2017
- Graduated with a degree in exercise science
PERSONAL
- Attended Eugene Ashley High School (Wilmington, North Carolina)
- Parents are Sam and Pam Highsmith
- Has a sister, Lauryn
- A/B Honor Roll throughout high school
- National Honor Society
- Also played basketball and baseball