Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher, TJ Watt is coming off a stellar season in which he led the league with 19 sacks. However, his season ended on a disappointing note when an injury sidelined him late in Week 18. Since being drafted by the Steelers in 2017, Watt has yet to secure a postseason win.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' TJ Watt (left) and Russell Wilson (right) talk before a game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Watt has been one of the NFL’s top players throughout his career, making the Steelers a formidable team. His presence on the field translates to wins for the Steelers, while his absence often results in losses. This offseason, the Steelers brought in veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, which they believe will help them achieve postseason success.
As players reported to camp on Wednesday, Watt spoke with the media about facing Wilson and getting to know him during the offseason. Watt revealed that Wilson has been a significant challenge, pushing him to improve.
"Yeah, I think he's done a great job. He's a challenging guy to go against," Watt said.
Wilson began his NFL career as a star with the Seattle Seahawks before being traded to the Denver Broncos and signing a five-year, $242 million deal. Despite throwing for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the 2023 season, Wilson struggled to win games with the Broncos, who had a poor overall performance.
Gabriel Christus
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson rolls out with the football.
This has led pundits to speculate about what Wilson can bring to the Steelers. Watt has expressed enthusiasm about what he’s seen from his new quarterback, Wilson.
"He's very calm and collected at the line of scrimmage, so you can't show it too early," Watt said when speaking about Wilson. "Just a guy that seems very calm and steady, never too high, never too low, and just loves to compete. So I'm happy he's with us."
If Wilson can replicate his 2023 production with the Broncos, the Steelers will be in a strong position. Last season, Pittsburgh's quarterbacks combined for only 13 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions, resulting in a historically poor offensive performance and struggles from the quarterback position.
This led the Steelers to acquire Wilson, with Head Coach Mike Tomlin stating that Wilson is expected to be the starting quarterback. Additionally, the Steelers traded for quarterback Justin Fields, who is anticipated to back up Wilson but will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job.
Steelers' TJ Watt Predicted To Win 2024 AP Defensive Player Of The Year
Watt is excited about Wilson joining the team and is highly motivated coming off a dominant season. Despite feeling he was snubbed for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, Watt is eager to prove himself in 2024. Watt made it pretty clear he was the best defensive player during the 2023 season. For some reason, he was overlooked for the award and he was not happy about it. He is projected to win the DPOY Award in the upcoming season, however.
Don Wright / ap
Steelers star TJ Watt slides with the football after a big turnover during a home game in Pittsburgh, PA.
While Wilson was reported to have faced issues with team dynamics in Denver, feedback from his new teammates has been overwhelmingly positive. His leadership and skills have received high praise, and local pundits are impressed with what they’ve seen from him this offseason. The atmosphere around the Steelers’ new quarterbacks is positive, and Watt is pleased with Wilson’s performance.
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