T.J. Watt looked like himself again in the Steelers’ 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, and the numbers backed it up. He finished with two sacks, three tackles for loss and the first pick-six of his career, a play that helped seal Pittsburgh’s third straight Week 1 victory and its sixth opening win in the last seven seasons.
But the bigger takeaway might have been how the Steelers handled his workload. Watt was on the field for 38 snaps, or 63 percent of the defense’s total, as Pittsburgh intentionally trimmed the snap counts for him and the team’s other top edge rushers. That’s a sharp drop for Watt, who had not played fewer than 82 percent of the snaps in a game since 2021.
On Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast, Watt said the lighter load has already made a difference.
“My body feels significantly better,” Watt said. “I feel way better.
And you know how it is, you want to be out there every play. You feel like any play you’re not out there is a missed opportunity to make a play.
Especially guys that can make splash [plays] like you can.”
He also pointed to linebackers coach C.J. Ah You for the way the edge rotation was managed.
“I think that’s something I didn’t really recognize was in C.J.‘s repertoire was managing reps like that,” Watt said. “I think that’s a skill, honestly, to be able to rotate us. Especially, as you know, with me, Herb, Jack, and Alex, sometimes there’s three of us out there on the field at the same time… I think that’s a skill that C.J. put on display on Sunday.”
The Steelers now head to New England in Week 2 to face the Patriots, a team Pittsburgh beat 21-14 a season ago.
In Other News...
Broderick Jones Update Reopens An Ugly Steelers Development Question
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For Pittsburgh, the interest is obvious because Jones has already pointed to the position changes he went through with the Steelers as a hurdle in his growth. Dallas is trying to give him the kind of stability he did not always have in Pittsburgh, keeping him focused strictly at right tackle instead of bouncing him around. Whether that steady plan finally unlocks him is now one of the more intriguing subplots for a Steelers fan watching from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Be Running Out Of Time With Joey Porter Jr
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The longer the impasse lingers, the more it invites bigger questions about how the Steelers want to handle one of their most recognizable young defenders. Reports have already linked Pittsburgh to the possibility of exploring a trade, and the Detroit Lions are said to have interest, which gives the situation a layer of urgency as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Could Soon Face A Joey Porter Jr. Decision
Joey Porter Jr. has become a name to watch in Pittsburgh as the young cornerback works through a back injury and has not been practicing fully. For a Steelers defense that has leaned on him as part of its long-term plan, any health issue naturally draws attention, especially with the regular season calendar already putting pressure on roster decisions.
Detroits cornerback need after Avonte Maddoxs injury has added another layer to the conversation, with rumors linking the Lions to Porter Jr. Even so, there is still no official word on any move, which leaves Pittsburgh in a familiar spot with a talented defensive back and a decision that could hinge on how the next stretch of practices unfolds. [Read more 🡒]