Steelers Star TJ Watt Expresses Clear Admiration For Playing Alongside $68 Million Teammate Alex Highsmith

It was a massive victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. History suggests that very few teams that start the season 0-2 end up in the postseason. That's what the Steelers were facing on Monday evening, along with several other historical statistics. The franchise has dominated in primetime on their home turf, and they were able to keep that going against the AFC North rival.

With a 26-22 victory, Pittsburgh improved to 1-1 ahead of Week 3. Along the way, star edge rusher TJ Watt was his usual self. In fact, he broke the Steelers' all-time sack record, surpassing the legendary James Harrison. Watt picked up his 81st (and a half) career sack, which now sits atop the franchise's all-time list. When talking to the media after the game, he wanted to acknowledge one specific teammate: Alex Highsmith.

"I'm just so happy to be able to play with a guy that loves the game so much. And that's not taking anything away from any other guys that I've played with. It's so cool to see his progression and his hunger. The guy has so many phenomenal pass rush moves and he can defend the run so well. We just really feed off of each other. We're just happy when the other person makes a play. Alex played phenomenal tonight, and I just want to continue to do this with him and this defense."

Money well spent. After negotiating with him all summer long, the Steelers finally reached an agreement on a contract extension with Highsmith just ahead of the regular season. While some doubted paying two edge rushers top-notch money, these kind of games signal why that's a smart idea. Despite a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022, Highsmith was still somehow snubbed from the NFL's list of the Top 100 players.

Several teammates, including defensive lineman Cam Heyward, acknowledged the massive snub. The Steelers front office made sure he didn't reach free agency though, as they locked him up on a massive four-year, $68 million contract extension. That pricey duo of Watt and Highsmith lived up to that money on Monday night, as they helped lead Pittsburgh to victory. The two wrecked havoc all night, as it seems like Watt is back to his old self.

Will Steelers' Watt Win DPOY Again In 2023?

After winning AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, Watt struggled with injuries in 2022. He played in just 10 games on the year, and his stats were even subpar by his standards. That left for a lot of doubters this offseason, as he was consistently ranked behind Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and others for the best edge rusher in the game. Well, he's proved those people wrong already in 2023.

It started with a three-sack performance in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite the team's overall lackluster performance, Watt singlehandedly kept the AFC North squad in the game longer than they deserved. For a second consecutive week, he proved his worth. With over $40 million/year locked up in Watt and Highsmith, expectations are high for the team's pass rushers.

So far, it seems to be well worth the money. Browns rookie tackle Dawand Jones, who the Steelers passed up in the pre-draft process, had his hands full on Monday evening. Ahead of the contest, the rookie pointed out a supposed flaw in Watt's game, something that didn't end up working out for him. Regardless, it's clear that Watt and Highsmith enjoy each other's presence, and rightfully so.

Where does this duo rank amongst the best in Steelers history? What are your biggest concerns with this team after two weeks of the season? Will Watt take home his second career Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!

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