It was clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered from the loss of edge rusher, TJ Watt for nearly half of the 2022 season. The team was 8-2 in games that the dominant pass rusher played in and just 1-6 when he was unable to suit up due to a torn pectoral muscle. Watt, who was the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, still managed to have 5.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. The simple nature of him being able to play and line up on defense has made an incredible difference for the organization since he was drafted in 2017.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captains, TJ Watt (#90) and Cameron Heyward (#97) participate during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
While fans of the black and gold haven't forgotten about his authoritative defensive skill, it's quite possible that his talent has not been on the minds of some outlets. Specifically, on Sunday, Pro Football Focus tweeted out just four simple words: 'Rank these pass rushers.'
Rank these pass rushers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KLgh9PYaxR
— PFF (@PFF) March 26, 2023
Well, that's odd. These guys deserve some recognition and there's no doubting that, but Watt, after missing seven games in 2022, has as many or more sacks during the past two seasons than two of these players. Haason Reddick has 27 total since 2021, which is identical to Watt, while Micah Parsons has 26.5 throughout his first two years in the NFL.
Steelers enemy, Myles Garrett, is second in the group of five with 32 while Nick Bosa is at the top with 34 in that time frame. It's fair to assume Watt would have blown most of, or all, of them out of the water if he played a full season in 2022. It's the offseason, so PFF is trying to stir up conversation, but should be held accountable if they are leaving out the league's best pass rusher since 2017.
Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) celebrates after making a big play at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Watt has 77.5 sacks since he entered the league in 2017 after being drafted by the Steelers, which is the most of any player in the NFL. Some tend to think that he in injury-prone, but aside from 2022, he only missed four total games and one of which was a coach's decision to allow him to rest the final week of the 2020 campaign.
After the tweet was posted, several fans came to Watt's defense and let PFF's social media team that this was the wrong list, especially if they were implying these are the top four in the game today without any mention of the Steelers' best player.
Why is Reddick on this?? TJ Watt is the missing link here. Don’t disrespect my boi just because he was injured half the year!!
— Justice Perez (@justice_perez9) March 26, 2023
If the tweet was specifically related to 2022, this would make sense, but it's difficult to justify leaving the Steelers' star out of this, even with an injury-plagued season.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) participates in drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA on July 28, 2022. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' Watt Is Deserving Of More Consistent Respect
This might not bother some people, but Watt deserves to be talked about and in the discussion in relation to the league's best pass rushers. An argument can be made that Garrett is the most physically imposing and Bosa was the best in 2022, but there's no way Watt should have been left off of this list, especially with Parsons being in the NFL for just two seasons.
Do you think Watt is one of the NFL's top four pass rushers? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
