The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense will be without several notable stars in Week 3 against the New England Patriots. The struggling unit will be without linebacker Alex Highsmith and cornerback Joey Porter Jr ., who headline the team's inactives.

Pittsburgh ruled out Highsmith and Porter, along with safety DeShon Elliott, on Friday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported. They also list rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, who has yet to make his debut, as questionable.

While Highsmith's setback hurts, the team can feel confident slotting Nick Herbig into the starting lineup. Herbig is arguably the team's brightest young star, racking up 5.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits off the bench in 2024.

However, Porter and Elliott are significant losses to a secondary that is already struggling.

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