T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt
Is this the T.J. Watt the Steelers will see this year?
T.J. Watt started his career with a two-sack game that included an interception. It took him nearly a decade to do it again. Not that that’s a knock on him, but rather a question of whether he is still that player. It’s not the rarest feat in history—it’s happened over 100 times. And over a dozen people have dozen it multiple times, including James Harrison, Mike Meriweather, and Joey Porter Sr.
But with the reported demise of T.J. Watt, what does this performance signify? Watt clearly played a very good game—an excellent game, and not just on those three plays. It might be better than any game that he played last season.
The question is, can the Steelers still get an elite season out of Watt this year? By the time December rolls along, will he be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation? Because it’s been a couple years now since he was last. Even in 2024, when he led the NFL with six forced fumbles, he didn’t even finish in the top three in voting.
Of course, the Steelers aren’t supposed to need an elite season from Watt this year, not with their pass-rushing platoon. And Alex Highsmith contributed two sacks yesterday, as well. While Nick Herbig didn’t blow up the stat sheet, he played a lot and found his way into the backfield. He drew at least one holding penalty that I can recall, and should have drawn one or two others.
But the Steelers are paying Watt an elite salary, so they might as well get elite play from him. They did in the season opener, but what about the remaining 16 games? Will we see more of the Watt of 2023, or is he more of a diminished product?
Athletically, he certainly didn’t look as though he is over the hill. Watt has always relied on study and technique, but his quickness and bend are still there, as well. On paper, there doesn’t seem to be anything precluding him from being at his best. But one game won’t tell us a great deal either way—for now, we’re merely raising questions.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already into the regular season. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.