Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News
Steelers Remain Confident if T.J. Watt Can’t Play vs. Ravens: ‘We Have Quality Guys That Could Be Starters’
The Steelers could be without linebacker T.J. Watt against the Ravens, but they're confident that those behind him will step up if needed.
PITTSBURGH — The status of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is up in the air after he suffered an ankle injury during the team’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On Monday, head coach Mike Tomlin said Watt has a chance to play, but the odds are stacked against him on a short week.
That could open the door for backup linebackers Nick Herbig, Preston Smith and Jeremiah Moon to have much larger roles against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
It’s not an ideal scenario with the division on the line as Watt has registered 71 tackles (55 solo), 17 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 15 games against the Ravens. However, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is confident those behind Watt will rise to the occasion if called upon.
“Definitely have a deeper group,” Heyward said. “You look throughout the season. We’ve had a lot of guys step up at that position when Alex (Highsmith) has been down. So to watch Alex, Herbig, Preston Smith and then also watch Moon, we have quality guys that could be starters on other teams.”
Heyward is right. The Steelers might have the deepest and most talented outside linebacker room in the NFL.
Highsmith, Herbig, Smith and Moon have combined for 67 tackles, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for the Steelers this season.
Herbig filled in nicely for Highsmith earlier in the season and Smith has played well in a rotational role since the Steelers acquired him for a seventh-round pick in November.
Still, it will be difficult to replace the production of a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“That’s our leader, man,” Herbig said. “When somebody like that goes down, when the chief goes down, we all got to come together at that point.”
Outside of Watt, the closest player the Steelers have to playing at a DPOY level is Heyward, who has recorded 60 tackles (31 solo) and eight sacks.
That’s why Heyward joked he could help fill Watt’s role as an edge rusher come Saturday, too.
“I got to play outside linebacker,” Heyward joked. “Nah, we’ll see. I’ll be sending ice to his house, praying to God we can get him right.”
That’s not going to happen since the Steelers will need him to focus on closing running lanes for Ravens running back Derrick Henry, but that will put more pressure on Herbig, Smith and others to step up.
That’s nothing Herbig hasn’t already experienced or done, though.
“That’s NFL football, man. It’s a grown man’s game,” Herbig said. “It’s December. Playoff contentions, so we got to bring our A-game every week.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Philadelphia.
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