Steelers' Mike Tomlin Puts Fans At Ease With Encouraging Update On Veterans Who Missed Preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers had multiple veteran players sit out for all three weeks of the preseason. Superstar linebacker TJ Watt and defensive lineman Cam Heyward were two of the most notable players who didn't take a snap, as both are expected to play in Sunday's regular season opener. Heyward has been a focal point of the Steelers' defense for 14 seasons and is expected to play according to Head Coach Mike Tomlin, despite earlier rumors that left the veteran's Week 1 status up in the air.

Heyward and Watt are widely regarded as two of the biggest defensive stars in all of football. Their presence on the defensive line will be critical towards the Steelers' overall success in 2025. Coach Tomlin took a moment to speak to the media earlier on Tuesday about Watt, Heyward, and the rest of the Steelers' veterans, where the legendary head coach claimed he wasn't worried about the players who didn't play in the preseason.

Tomlin mentioned Watt's huge game during Week 1 in 2021 following his holdout, where the superstar was credited with one of the best games of his career while not making a single appearance throughout the preseason.

"It's not challenging," Tomlin stated. "I base my decisions basically off of shared experiences in a lot of ways. Cam, for example, he and I have been together for a lot of years. He's logged a bunch of snaps and his runway required to takeoff is short relative to others. TJ had that big game I think in the opener in '21 in Buffalo when he had a holdout, he had two sacks, a fumble and things of that nature, and so you go through things with people and you learn what they can manage in terms of readiness."

Tomlin then continued to speak about his reasoning behind certain players having a different schedule of work.

"My job is to be fair to everyone, not to treat everyone the same. That's why the schedule of work is different for different people in team development," Tomlin explained.

Watt and Heyward should thrive this year regardless of not playing in the preseason. Both veterans have proven to succeed without the preseason in the past, as Watt in particular had one of the best performances of his career during 2021's Week 1. Watt recently signed a three-year $123 million extension earlier in the offseason and will look to play at an elite level despite not getting additional reps in August.

Heyward is a 2024 All-Pro who has remained as an anchor piece on the Steelers' defense during his entire 14-year career. The veteran is entering his 15th NFL season and has continued to play at an elite level, despite his age. 

Steelers' TJ Watt And Cam Heyward Could Play An Expanded Role In Week 1

Week 1 of the NFL season is finally here. The Steelers will be in New Jersey to face off against Aaron Rodgers' former team, the New York Jets, as Pittsburgh will look to get off to a quick start on the season. Both Watt and Heyward could find themselves taking on an expanded role on Sunday as well, as promising rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has officially been ruled out for the first matchup of the year.

Harmon was the Steelers' first-round pick in the draft this past April. The rookie was a star on the college level at Oregon and played a major role in the program's success last season. Watt and Heyward may find themselves taking on a larger workload with Harmon not playing, as getting off to a strong start could be crucial for the Steelers' veteran defensive duo.

Tomlin's comments on Tuesday confirm that the majority of the veterans who didn't play in the preseason will be ready to go for Week 1. Watt and Heyward could be slated with a major workload with Harmon officially listed as out, and Rodgers will look to get off to a quick start on the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers will face the Jets at 1:00 PM EST on Sunday at MetLife Stadium to kickoff the season.

Are you excited to see Watt and Heyward thrive in 2025? Comment below!

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