The Pittsburgh Steelers take a lot of pride in their defense, and star edge rusher T.J. Watt is the central piece on that side of the ball.
But the team was without him on the first day of their mandatory minicamp.
In a recent interview with the media, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin reassured fans that whenever Watt does show up, he will not even miss a beat.
"When T.J. shows up, he’ll be ready to go," Austin said. "He’s handling his business, he’s doing his thing... We’ve texted this summer, not about football stuff, about how his family is doing, his new baby."
The superstar edge rusher is entering the final season of his current contract, and is seeking an extension. With how important he is to the franchise, it would be a shock if the Steelers didn't extend Watt.
The 30-year-old defender had a slower year this past season, but that is only because 11.5 sacks is considered "slow" for him. He also led the league in forced fumbles with six, as he was able to consistently get the ball out of ballcarrier's hands and into the hands of the Steelers' defense.
Watt might be about to turn 31, but he has shown the past several seasons that he is still one of the best players in the NFL, no matter what side of the ball you are talking about. So when the team does give him the extension he is looking for, he will be ready to go.