I think it goes without saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers used a first-round pick on outside linebacker T.J. Watt in 2017 thinking that he could be a star. Now the defense needs him to be that star, especially following the season-ending injury to Stephon Tuitt. Yet Tuitt’s loss will affect him most directly, as they play on the same side of the ball.
Meanwhile, Watt himself is dealing with an abdominal injury that has him slowing his way back into the fold during practice this week. While it looks like he’s trending toward playing, there’s no guarantee that he does, or that he won’t be limited.