The Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt wasn’t able to return to the field for the teams Week 8 Sunday road game against the Philadelphia Eagles despite having his 21-day practice window opened just ahead of the weekend. That said, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin did indicate during his bye week media session that the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year was close to being able to play in that contest.
“He was pretty close,” Austin said on Wednesday of Watt. “He was champing at the bit to play, I know that. And obviously it just wasn’t ready.