Watt impressive in first full drills
It didn’t take long for Steelers players to see what they have with No. 1 pick T.J. Watt.
On his first day of practice in pads, Watt showed why the Steelers used the 30th overall pick in the April draft on him, flashing his trademark intensity and flattening a couple of players in one-onone pass-rushing drills.
Even Watt, who has been working with the first-team defense at right outside linebacker, said it “went really well” Sunday.
And it continued Monday on another sunny day at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. At one point, he even bull-rushed left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and pushed him into the backfield, causing a collision.
“Iwas really eager because it’s been four of five months since Jan. 2 and I wanted to finally get out there and show people what I can do,” Watt said, referring to his final bowl-game appearance with Wisconsin. “Talk is talk, and going through shorts and tshirt practice is good for learning the system, but once you get the system under your belt you truly want to get out there and play football again and make plays.”
And his teammates took immediate notice.
Watt, who reported at 252 pounds, nine more than his playing weight last season, stood out in the backs-on-backers drill, using his hands to swat away blocks or merely bull-rushing blockers such at 6-foot-8 tight end Phazahn Odom and planting himon his back.
“All the credit he gets go to his hard work,” said defensive end Cam Heyward. “I just want him to him to keep growing. Every day has to be a new challenge for him. I’m going to hold him accountable just because he’s on my side.”
“I’ve seen him pass rush; T.J. catches on fast,” said outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who lines up on the opposite side from Watt. “I think he caught on faster than me. He does pretty good. He’s ahead in the playbook. I think it will bea great year for him.”
Dupree worked with Watt after practice, pretending to be a blocker while Watt kept repeating moves with his hands in a simulated pass rush.
“I love the game of football; that’s why I play,” Watt said. “To go out there and not be jacked up to be in pads and do what I love to do in front of the best fans in the NFL would be a cop-out if I didn’t give it everything I had. To go out there and truly show all that amped-up intensity I’ve been keeping inside for the past four or five months and let it loose was an absolute blast.”
Watt has been getting plenty of reps with the firstteam defense while James Harrison, 39, is being eased gently into his 16th NFL training camp, 15 with the Steelers.
“That’s really good for me, that’s everything I want,” Watt said. “The more reps I get, the better it is because I’m still adjusting to the NFL, the speed, the size. Anytime I get more reps, I’m happy.”
More injuries
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice Monday, one day after being given off to attend a funeral.
Good thing, too, because backup Landry Jones sustained an abdominal injury early in practice and did not return. That gave rookie fourth-round pick Josh Dobbs a lot of reps with the second-and third-team units.
Also leaving practice and not returning were defensive end Stephon Tuitt (ankle) and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (heat-related). Tuitt’s injury is not considered serious.
Coach Mike Tomlin did not offer any update on running back James Conner (shoulder) or cornerback Senquez Golson (lower leg), except to say each went to Pittsburgh Monday to be evaluated.
Hits and misses
• With the absence of running back Le’Veon Bell and injury to Conner, Fitzgerald Toussaint has taken advantage of the opportunity and looked very good. Toussaint took on Shazier head-on in the backs-on-backers drill Sunday and was a standout Monday from scrimmage.
• Safety Mike Mitchell, inside linebacker Vince Williams and rookie wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster did not practice.
• Antonio Brown is one of 10 NFL players who will be featured with singer Carrie Underwood for NBC’s new “Sunday Night Football” opening. The opening was taped in June at Universal Studiosin Hollywood, Calif.
Under the lights
The Steelers will hold their annual night practice at 7 p.m. Friday at Latrobe Stadium, then stage their first Family Fest trainingcamp practice at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Field. Gates will open at 5 p.m., and admission is $10. The players are off Tuesday. They will resume practice at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday. The session is open to the public.