Derek Watt increasingly becoming bigger part of Steelers’ offense

It could be argued the Watt who had the biggest impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ win at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday wasn’t reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. but his older brother Derek.

While that’s probably not entirely true, statistically it might be. After all, while battling a painful rib injury Sunday, outside linebacker T.J. was limited to three tackles and no sacks or quarterback pressures. Derek, though, had a key early successful carry on a third-and-1, added a reception and even had a special-teams tackle during the Steelers’ 19-16 win.

No one is yet clamoring for Watt to replace Najee Harris as the Steelers’ featured back, but after two seasons of relative inactivity Watt seemingly has become a weekly part of the offensive gameplan.

“It definitely feels good to get involved,” Watt said Monday. “Obviously, we are continuing to have some success with it, so that’s bringing out some more opportunities. Whatever I get, I try to make the most of it.”

Derek Watt on the bounce back for the Steelers special teams unit Sunday pic.twitter.com/ub6sqDUtzM

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) December 5, 2022

Faced with what coach Mike Tomlin might call a “weighty possession down” just three snaps into Sunday’s game, the Steelers, on third-and-1 from their own 34, did not call the number of Harris or complementary tailbacks Benny Snell or Jaylen Warren. They didn’t call a pass play or QB sneak, either.

Instead, it was a handoff to Watt, who gained 4 yards. The conversion allowed the Steelers to hold onto the ball for 13 more plays, gain an additional 39 yards and score three points to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Who knows how Sunday’s game turns out if the Steelers start with a three-and-out?

“It feels good,” Watt said of gaining the trust of the coaching staff to carry the ball in critical moments.

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“Those are possessions. It creates another fresh set of downs for the offense and, hopefully, put a full drive together after that. The one last game was the first drive of the game, and we put a really long drive together. It was 7½ minutes, the first drive of the game. Those are big plays, and we’ve just got to take advantage of them.”

Watt was signed mostly for his special-teams prowess and has served as a captain of that unit. Over his first 2½ seasons with the Steelers since signing in 2020 until Week 8 of this season, though, Watt had just six touches. He’s had eight touches over the Steelers’ past five games — four carries and four receptions — including a touchdown and four other first-down conversions.

For the season, Watt is 5 for 5 in picking up first downs on third-and-1 carries.

“The O-line has done a great job on those short-yardage plays and kind of made my job easy,” Watt said. “We have been successful, and I am fortunate for that. We have to continue to make the most of those opportunities.”

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