Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is “feeling great” as the Steelers approach Week 1 but the top backup to both him and T.J. Watt is still on the mend.

Nick Herbig is rehabbing and recovering from a hamstring injury while Highsmith is just about all the way back from a soft-tissue problem of his own. Highsmith missed much of training camp with a groin issue tweaked Aug. 3 but is back to full practice and ready to roll for the season opener Sept. 7.

“I’ve been doing a lot of team drills this week, so I feel really good — really close to 100%,” Highsmith said after practice Monday. “Just being smart with it. It’s definitely frustrating to have this thing happen again like it did last year, but I’ve turned over a lot of stones to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Highsmith added that h

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