The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a unique spot during their 2023 season as they sit at 6-3 despite being outgained in every single game. While that statistic is becoming a well-known fact, their success has been happening in the midst of some excruciating losses due to injury. With season-ending injuries striking their linebacker corps and the offense still finding its footing, being strong on defense has never been more crucial. TJ Watt noticed something during a recent workout with his older brother that brought up a fascinating idea, and it wouldn't be the first time in 2023 that the prospect has been floated: was JJ Watt considering a comeback?
Cooper Neill / Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers know that the chances of retired JJ Watt returning to play and choosing Pittsburgh is a longshot, but it's a fun idea to consider amongst the fans.
Steelers' TJ Watt Brings Up Dream Scenario To JJ Watt Again
The possibility of the older Watt brother coming out of retirement to join forces with Pittsburgh's Watt has been swirling about ever since the elder Watt retired following the 2022 NFL season, despite the slim chances of that happening. The minimal possibility hasn't dampened the interest in this team-up, and every time it is brought back up by either Watt brother, it becomes a headline topic again.
Kelso, I appreciate the thought very much (and all the love from Pitt. I love you guys.)
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 15, 2023
But I spent the morning with my wife and 10 mo. old son and am now making the turn after the 9th hole with a Miller Lite in one hand and a hot dog in front of me…
Kinda beats practice.
🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/PrqgRYmUdz
Well, the older Watt brother was doing his weekly segment on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, and it didn't take very long for the subject to swing around to his younger brother. Apparently, during a recent workout between the two Watt brothers, the younger Watt noticed that his older brother was lifting an impressive amount more than he usually did. With a mix of humor and hope, the younger Watt wondered if his older brother was actually upping his workout for a specific reason. When Watt said this to the crew on The Pat McAfee Show, they immediately reacted, with Pat McAfee jumping to say that Week 11 would be the perfect time for a return.
"Even TJ [Watt] yesterday, we were texting about the workout, and even he was like, 'Hey, you're lifting a lot of weight right now, like, what's all this for?'"
It's one thing for the topic to be jokingly thrown around during a private workout between brothers, but for the older Watt to bring it up on The Pat McAfee Show was something he had to know would absolutely catch fire for Steelers fans. Even if we all know that it is beyond the realm of possibility, just the idea of having both game-changing Watt brothers on the same team is something that would make any Pittsburgh fan pause for a moment.
Packers News / packersnews.com
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt knows that he will be the only Watt in Pittsburgh for the 2023 season, even if it's fun to imagine JJ Watt in black and gold too.
Steelers Shouldn't Get Their Hopes Up About A Watt Team-Up
Watt may have brought the subject up on a huge sports show, but even he knows that there is a big difference between upping your workout game and being back in NFL game shape. While it is certainly an interesting tidbit that his younger brother would point out the specific difference in his workout regiment, the entire exchange was most likely done with an air of humor, rather than them taking it seriously. The elder Watt also confirmed as much as he continued to say that where he was at that moment was a long way from being able to play professional football.
"The thing that I keep going back to cause... there's thoughts that always will creep into your head, but I always shoot them right down. But, like, I have not run! So I'm not -- I have not run. I've not run, I've not trained. Certainly, the lifting is absolutely there."
It is always fascinating to imagine what the Steelers would be like with Watt bookends, but the reality of what would need to occur for that dream situation becomes entirely too complex. There is no reason for this to dampen the spirits of a 6-3 team in the heart of the AFC playoff race because the defensive pass-rushing duo that the Steelers do have isn't too shabby. Between Alex Highsmith and Watt, they have combined for 15 sacks in 2023, and both prove that they are capable of shifting the course of a game in a single moment.
Lucy Schaly / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rushers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith are enough to make Steelers fans forget about the dream of getting a JJ Watt team-up.
As the second half of the 2023 campaign goes into the homestretch, the Steelers will be relying on their incredibly expensive defense to turn the tides on a regular basis, or at least until the offense can figure out how to become the version we all saw during the 2023 preseason. There may not be a Watt reunion on the horizon for the Steelers, but that doesn't mean there is any less excitement for the unexpected success of the 6-3 Steelers going into Week 11 of 2023.
Will the Pittsburgh defense end up being most responsible for the success of the team's 2023 season? Comment below.
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