T.J. Watt did not make a major impact in his return to action for the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the outside linebacker did make a big play.
Watt had the game’s only interception on Sunday night when the Steelers edged the visiting Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a showdown for the AFC North title at Acrisure Stadium. His pick of Lamar Jackson came on a pass deflected by defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.
It was a welcome sight for the Steelers after Watt missed the previous three games following surgery for a partially collapsed lung.
“He has been one of the best to do it for a very long time,” Steelers rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer said of Watt, a four-time All-Pro. "And it seems like he's always there around the ball to make a play. He's Johnny on the spot right there to make the play and get the turnover for our offense to get the short field. So, I just feel like great players somehow always seem to fall into a good play. I know he definitely is one of best ever to play. That's kind of the name of his game.”
Watt had just two tackles in what has been a disappointing season after signing a three-year, $123-million contract extension. He has just seven sacks after reaching double digits in six of the previous seven seasons. The only time he fell short was in 2022 when he was limited to 10 games.
However, an encouraging sign on Sunday was Watt playing on 82 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps. He should have no restrictions on Monday night when the Steelers (10-7) host the Houston Texans (12-5) in a Wild Card playoff game.
"Honestly, I am really pleased with how I felt,” he said. “Hats off to the training staff, strength staff for getting me ready to go. Felt great out there.”
Watt, like his teammates, was excited about his second interception of the season and ninth of his nine-year career.
"Just trying to rush," Watt said. "Any time you play hard, the ball finds you, and you just make plays. Any time you feel like you need to make a play, you just got to go as hard as you possibly can, as fast as you can. Even though I wasn't able to get to the quarterback, the ball just popped up and I was able to make the play.”