All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt returned just in time to help the Pittsburgh Steelers earn a postseason berth. Watt recorded an interception in the 26-24 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. The interception led to a field goal in the winner-take-all AFC North matchup.
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin told reporters Thursday he liked what he saw from Watt in his return to the field. But Austin made clear the Steelers top edge rusher should be better versus the Houston Texans another week removed from surgery.
“You got a guy that’s missed three or four weeks coming back. You know how it is,” Austin said to the media. “Everybody thinks, ‘Oh, I’ll just come back in and be the same guy I was.’ [But] it’s going to take you a minute to get your legs under you and get used to the timing of everything.
“People don’t realize how much pass rush is a lot about timing and hand usage. There is a whole bunch that goes into that. As you get back and get back into the game, you have to get those things working again.
“I assume he’ll be better this week than he was last week.”
The Steelers will host the Texans in the AFC wild card round on Monday night, January 12. Kickoff is set for one month and a day after Watt underwent surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung.
Watt needed surgery on December 11 after receiving dry needling treatment at the team’s facility. He missed three games in December.
Steelers Expect Better T.J. Watt in Postseason
Watt finished the regular season with 55 combined tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. He also had seven sacks, 19 quarterback hits, eight pass defenses, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Based on the high standard he has set, it was a statistical down year for Watt. So, the Steelers might not just need a better Watt than Week 18 but the entire 2025 campaign.
NFL coaches and players, though, often view the playoffs as a new season. The veteran edge rusher can end the campaign on a high note by helping the Steelers win their first playoff game since he joined the team.
The Steelers have posted an 0-4 record with Watt in the lineup during the playoffs. The edge rusher has registered five quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three pass defenses and a sack in those contests.
During his record-setting 2021 season, Watt also recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in the playoffs.
Steelers Edge Rushers Key to Texans Upset?
Watt isn’t entering the postseason as the same dominating player he once was. But the Steelers edge rushing room is still one of the best in the league.
The Steelers were sixth in the NFL with 48 sacks during 2025. Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig each had more sacks than Watt with 9.5 and 7.5, respectively.
Rookie Jack Sawyer also came on strongly at the end of the regular season. In Watt’s absence, Sawyer made an interception during Week 17.
Putting those edge rushers in a position to make a splash play versus Houston could be an important factor for the Steelers winning their first playoff game since January 2017.
“We’ll do the best we can to try to create some matchups and try to get some one-on-one situations,” Austin said. “We do feel like we have some good rushers, some guys that can really put some pressure on the quarterback.”
The Texans are 3-point favorites in the wild card showdown. Pittsburgh’s last postseason win came against the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2016 season. The Steelers drafted Watt about three months later.
Teryl Austin Delivers Clear Message on Steelers’ T.J. Watt Before Playoffs