For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it doesn't matter where the players are or what time of the year it is; they will find a way to train and get ready for football season. There have been many stories out there, like Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett working with receivers to try and gain chemistry down in Florida, or James Harrison's viral workout routine. It's not just the new players either, as the greatest defensive player in football is also working out in the offseason, with some help from a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
JJ Watt Instagram
Steelers' TJ Watt works out with older brother JJ as he finds ways to continue training during this summer time off.
TJ Watt has to make sure he's in top physical shape to continue dominating on the edge and help make the whole Steelers defense elite. He and his brother, JJ Watt, took to a golf course as many players do in the offseason. However, they didn't use the golf course to play golf. Instead, they went through football drills, including JJ Watt acting as a right tackle, so TJ Watt could practice getting past him and getting into the backfield.
iron sharpens iron.@_TJWatt pic.twitter.com/K4GU1D4c7d
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 16, 2023
JJ knows a thing or two about training to be the best, as his achievements are well known. He is all but confirmed to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer with everything that he has done in the league, especially with the Houston Texans. It's no surprise to see another generational pass rusher taking after him and training with him. JJ even said so himself in the tweet: "Iron sharpens iron." One defensive legend is sharpening another potential defensive legend.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt heads into the 2023 season with a mission.
How Will TJ Watt Do In 2023?
As long as Watt stays mostly healthy in 2023, it is expected that he will at least compete for the Defensive Player of the Year Award again, with a strong chance to win it. With the pass rush getting some reinforcements in the 2023 offseason, as well as Alex Highsmith having a breakout season in 2022, it will be much harder for the offense to focus solely on stopping Watt. Staying in shape during the offseason is one of the key ways for Watt to stay healthy and continue bullying offenses across the league.
In 2022, Watt missed almost half of the season with a torn pectoral muscle during their Week 1 matchup, and the brace that he had to wear once he returned hindered his individual play. In 2021, Watt was on the injury report in some fashion nearly every week, whether he played or not. It's safe to say that a healthy Watt could easily break Michael Strahan's sack record, a record that Watt tied during his injury-riddled 2021 campaign, where he won Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL.com
T.J. Watt scoops a loose ball for the first score in Pittsburgh's Wild Card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
Watt's impact is not just from sacking the quarterback. He can hop up and swat some balls down, or even intercept them, like he did against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals twice in 2022. He is also the iron trying to sharpen iron, as he is helping Pickett prepare for dealing with strong pass rushes, especially with the long list of strong pass rushes that the Steelers will face to begin the season.
The Steelers need Watt to be as ready and healthy as possible, especially with the San Francisco 49ers and their strong offensive line coming to town for Week 1, immediately followed by the Cleveland Browns' strong offensive line. Watt will need to continue to lead the pass rush if the Steelers want to make mincemeat of these lines. His superstar brother should help a lot with this goal, and it starts with their offseason training.
What do you think of TJ and JJ Watt training together in the offseason? What will 2023 look like for TJ Watt? Let us know down in the comments.
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