T.J. Watt suffers apparent ankle injury in Week 15 vs Eagles

T.J. Watt’s late-game injury clouds the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff outlook, but their depth at linebacker offers hope.

As if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 15, 13-27 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t get any worse, their best player on defense appeared to suffer an injury to his left leg at the end of the contest.

With under five minutes remaining, T.J. Watt attempted to bend to the outside to get around Eagles RT Lane Johnson but collapsed to the ground, clutching his left foot and ankle area.

The good news is that Watt ultimately walked off the field under his own power, but the timing couldn’t be worse with the playoffs just weeks away.

The Pittsburgh Steelers boast incredible depth at the outside linebacker position, with a plethora of capable pass rushers—Preston Smith, Nick Herbig, and Alex Highsmith—ready to step up in Watt’s potential absence. Watt’s availability for the remainder of the regular season will be the top question on everyone’s minds. Stay tuned to Steelers Wire for updates.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Philadelphia established its passing game and was dominant on defense, but the scoreboard tells a different story as the Eagles hold just a 17-13 lead over Pittsburgh after one half.

Vic Fangio’s defense held the Steelers to just 80 yards of offense on 30 plays in the first half, but two costly Eagles turnovers and two Chris Boswell field goals have Mike Tomlin’s team within four.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at sights and sounds from the first half.

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Steelers expect Eagles to leave OTs on island in pass pro

The Steelers face a huge challenge this week in the Eagles offensive tackles.

The Philadelphia Eagles have two of the best starting offensive tackles in the NFL. The combination of Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson gives Philadelphia plenty of freedom when it comes to blocking. This week they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers and according to Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, he expects them to work against the Steelers pass rushers with no help

Pittsburgh plans to deploy their pass rushers in a variety of ways against the Eagles. With Alex Highsmith healthy the Steelers have three quality edge players along with T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. If the Eagles dare them to beat their tackles one-on-one, Pittsburgh had better take advantage.

Historically, the Steelers have been among the best pass-rushing teams in the NFL but 2024 has been different. Watt leads the team with 9.5 sacks but Herbig and Highsmith have combined for only 8.5.

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NFL analyst breaks down Pittsburgh Steelers elite Week 14 pass rush

Brian Baldinger, best known for his ‘Baldy’s Breakdowns’, highlighted how intense the Steelers pass rush was against the Browns in Week 14.

Fans of the old-school style of great Pittsburgh Steelers defenses have surely enjoyed the 2024 season so far. The team boasts one of the most elite defensive lines in the NFL, featuring several of the league’s top defenders, including T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Cam Heyward, to name a few.

Brian Baldinger, an NFL analyst, highlighted a play that showcased what all four of these players are capable of when on the field together.

Baldinger’s description of the four Steelers defenders perfectly captures their impact, as these elite players consistently hunt down opposing quarterbacks come game time.

While there was much debate about how the Pittsburgh Steelers should utilize OLBs Highsmith, Watt, and Herbig together, Week 14 proved that the defense is at its best when all three are available.

The Black and Gold will need these defenders at their peak when they head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 15, on December 15 at 4:25 PM EST.

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LOOK: Steelers deploy four former Badgers on defensive line vs. Browns

LOOK: Steelers deploy four former Badgers on defensive line vs. Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line looked awfully familiar for Wisconsin Badgers fans on Sunday.

For a few sequences in the 27-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers deployed former Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton, defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, and linebackers Nick Herbig and T.J. Watt on the front four.

While all four playmakers have contributed to the Steelers’ defense during virtually every game this season, the foursome rarely lines up on the same snap. Both Watt and Benton start for Pittsburgh, Herbig serves as Alex Highsmith’s backup at strong-side linebacker and Loudermilk rotates in behind Larry Ogunjobi.

Another connection between the four UW alumni revolves around their time at Wisconsin. All four players suited up at Camp Randall under former Badger head coach Paul Chryst from 2015-22.

Here’s a look at the four former Badgers gearing up for a few snaps together on Sunday:

Watt, as he tends to do, impacted the contest with a pair of quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Loudermilk pitched in with a tackle, and Benton snagged his first career interception in the win over Jameis Winston’s Browns.

With the win, the Steelers now move to 10-3 on the season with four contests remaining on the 2024 season. Their next match — a Dec. 15 showdown with the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles.

Steelers fans would never guess what’s fueling defensive takeaways

The Steelers lead the NFL in turnovers is fueled by an unexpected motivator: T-shirts handed out to defenders for creating takeaways.

With athletes in today’s sports making upwards of $50 million per year, what could possibly still motivate them? It could be a mix of motivations—like building a legacy, chasing a championship, or even something as simple as… a T-shirt? You read that right. ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor wrote an intriguing article describing how the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is motivated by earning T-shirts for creating turnovers.

Pryor explained how Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin hands out T-shirts with phrases like “The Culture” and “Takeaways” printed on the front. These shirts are awarded individually to players involved in takeaways, such as OLB Preston Smith, who recovered a fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. Smith described how the defense is going crazy over the shirts and how this simple idea has been incredibly effective in giving players extra motivation.

With the Steelers leading the NFL with 25 turnovers, perhaps the other 31 teams should try handing out clothing items. Minkah Fitzpatrick could snag his first turnover T-shirt with an interception against Jameis Winston and the Browns in Week 14.

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Hard Knocks showed just how Mike Tomlin puts on a coaching masterclass with the Steelers

Hard Knocks showed us why Mike Tomlin is one of the greatest coaches of all time.

Mike Tomlin has been an NFL head coach for nearly 18 years. The Coach of the Year candidate has never seen a losing season with his Pittsburgh Steelers, who are almost always relevant as perennial playoff contenders. Anyone who follows the NFL regularly is unsurprised by Tomlin’s success. He is effectively a made man in Pittsburgh — for as long as he wants — because of how well he manages his team.

But Tomlin’s “tough love” player-centered style of coaching, in which he gets the pulse of everyone on his roster, can sometimes be hard to quantify if you’re not personally hanging around the Steelers’ locker room.

This is where programs like Hard Knocks, fortunately, come in.

With the NFL documentary series centering its latest in-season edition on the AFC North, we got a firsthand look at Tomlin’s in-game work during the Steelers’ win over the rival Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

And let me tell you, with just two sample clips to work off of, it’s clear Tomlin put on a coaching masterclass. What else is new?

The first video shows Tomlin planting a seed in Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig’s head. In the lead-up to the game with the Bengals, Tomlin wanted Herbig to think about beating Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. like a drum with a speed move. He kept talking about it.

With the Steelers needing a big defensive play to permanently tilt the matchup in their favor in the fourth quarter, Herbig came through — just like Tomlin encouraged him to.

It’s a small thing after the fact, but please note how Tomlin ensures he tells Herbig that he’s not shocked he made an impact play. That’s cultivating a small but not insignificant dynamic between coach and player where the player understands their coach has a strong belief in their abilities, no matter the situation. Not everyone can pull that kind of move off as a leader and come across as sincere.

Tomlin is, of course, not like everyone.

The other Hard Knocks clip showcases Tomlin’s relationship with the fiery George Pickens, who, in charitable terms, has been known to wear his heart on his sleeve. But Tomlin, likely better than anyone, knows how to keep people’s emotions in check.

After the Bengals notched an early pick-six off Russell Wilson in the first quarter — thanks to Pickens falling down, which let Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt catch the ball unimpeded en route to the end zone — Tomlin wouldn’t let Pickens sulk over his unforced error.

Mistakes like that happen all the time in a chaotic game like football. As Tomlin tells Pickens while holding him close, you have to fight for another day even when you screw up. Tomlin’s message appeared to resonate when Pickens responded with a touchdown of his own on the Steelers’ next possession:

It’s not every day you get to see a player’s coach like Tomlin thriving in their environment while wearing a mic. Thanks to Hard Knocks and NFL Films, we now have an even keener sense of why the Steelers coach will one day stroll into Canton. That’s because Tomlin’s work with Pickens and Herbig here was undoubtedly only scratching the surface of his coaching and mentorship.

And by the time Tomlin is up for a gold jacket and bronze bust, knowing his track record, he’ll likely be able to point to at least 30 consecutive winning seasons with the black and gold.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt-Nick Herbig tandem lead NFL in one incredible statistic

Watt and Herbig dominate the NFL in forced fumbles, showcasing the Steelers’ success in drafting elite Badger edge rushers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers know how to draft Badger edge rushers. The Black and Gold’s Wisconsin alumni, OLBs T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, are currently wrecking opposing offensive lines. An important statistic proves their success: the duo leads the entirety of the NFL in forced fumbles.

Watt and Herbig currently hold the first and second spots for most forced fumbles in the NFL, with five and four forced fumbles respectively. Combined, the edge-rushing tandem leads all other duos at their position with an impressive nine forced fumbles.

One incredible feat for fans to consider is that although Herbig is only one forced fumble away from being tied with Watt for the top spot, he has started seven fewer games than the 2021 D.P.O.Y.

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How will the inevitable return of OLB Alex Highsmith factor into the Wisconsin alumni edge-rushing tandem? Watt’s versatility in Week 13, which saw him line up all over the defense, could allow Highsmith and Herbig to play alongside him, creating an unstoppable Steelers pass rush.

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Former Wisconsin star linebacker helps clinch win in instant classic vs. Bengals

Former Wisconsin star linebacker helps clinch win in instant classic vs. Bengals

Former Wisconsin star linebacker Nick Herbig continued his strong 2024 campaign in the Steelers’ 44-38 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Herbig, one of 18 Badgers eligible for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, built off his dominant output in the Steelers’ 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 21. His five-tackle, one-sack performance in that game landed him a spot on ProFootballFocus’ Week 12 ‘NFL Team of the Week.’

This week, Herbig finished with two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble against the Bengals’ dynamic offense. The Hawaii native’s strip-sack on Joe Burrow early in the fourth quarter led to a 21-yard fumble recovery from fellow linebacker Payton Wilson.

The sequence turned the Steelers’ 34-24 edge into a 41-24 advantage with just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Herbig’s strip sack and the accompanying return proved to be the game-winning score.

Herbig is now responsible for 17 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles through eight games in 2024. He is emerging as one of the rising stars on a team built on a defensive identity.

The UW alumnus wasn’t the only Badger who recorded a strip-sack on Sunday. All-world outside linebacker T.J. Watt tallied two sacks and one forced fumble on the day to help guide Pittsburgh to its ninth win of the 2024 slate.

If Herbig continues to play at this caliber, he could earn himself a permanent starting spot in a loaded defensive unit.

Pittsburgh is undefeated when one Steelers defender is healthy

One Steelers defender, when healthy, has made a significant impact on the team’s success, and his absence in Week 13 could be pivotal.

It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers have faced their share of injury woes in 2024, losing several key starters to season-ending injuries. However, one key defender’s absence has impacted the team’s odds of winning more than most. When OLB Alex Highsmith has been injured—missing five of the eleven games this season—the Pittsburgh Steelers have gone 2-3. In contrast, when Highsmith hasn’t been dealing with his previous groin injury or his current ankle issue, the Steel City has remained undefeated, boasting an impressive 6-0 record.

While backup OLB Nick Herbig has provided impressive pass-rush abilities while filling in for the injured edge rusher, could Highsmith’s strength against the run, combined with the need for opposing offenses to prepare for his presence, lead to a stronger Black and Gold team?

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It is concerning, to say the least, that Highsmith is unlikely to play in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals after being listed as doubtful for the AFC North divisional matchup. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the opportunity to prove their ability to win games without Highsmith against their bitter rivals.

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