Watt's remarkable stamina post-surgery fuels Steelers' playoff hopes. The defensive star returned with an interception, impressing coaches with his game readiness.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was solid in his return following surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.
Watt had two tackles and an interception last Sunday when the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a winner-take-all game for the AFC North title. Watt had missed the previous three games while recovering from the surgery.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin expects Watt, a four-time All-Pro, to make an even bigger impact Monday night as the Steelers (10-7) host the Houston Texans (12-5) in a Wild Card round playoff game at Acrisure Stadium.
"You got a guy that’s missed three or four weeks and coming back and, everybody thinks, 'Oh, I'll just come back in and be the same guy I was.'” Austin said Thursday during his weekly press availability. “It's going to take you a minute to get your legs underneath you, get used to the timing of everything. People don't realize how much pass rush is a lot about timing and hand usage.
“There's a whole bunch that goes into it, and as you get back and get back into the game, you have to get those things working again. I assume he'll be better this week than he was (last) week, and we'll take it from there."
The Steelers were particularly happy with Watt’s stamina. He played 43 of their 48 defensive snaps, the 83 percent in line with his season percentage of 82.
Watt also became just the second NFL player to have nine interceptions and 100 sacks in his career. The sack became an official statistic in 1982.
"I'm not surprised at anything I get from T.J. because I know the way the guy is always in shape,” Austin said. He had a setback, but it wasn't one of those things where you worry about him getting so far out of shape or so weak that he wouldn't be able to work. So, it was good to get 43 snaps out of him.
“I asked him a few times during the game how he was feeling, and he was like, 'Yep, I'm good to go.' So, I'll trust him. If he tells me he's good to go, then he's good to go."