Imminent returns of T.J. Watt, Damontae Kazee energize Steelers defense in return after bye

The vibe in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room Monday, particularly among the defense, was not what might be expected for a team sitting at 2-6.

And it wasn’t just the four-day bye-week break that was energizing the Steelers headed into their next game.

“Can’t wait. Can’t. Wait,” defensive back Arthur Maulet said, emphasizing syllables, before elongating a vowel to further stress the point. “Can’t waaaaaaaait.”

Sunday’s meeting with the New Orleans Saints? The first home game in almost a month? That wasn’t all Maulet is looking forward to with great anticipation.

“I can’t wait til Kazee gets back.”

Longtime friend Damontae Kazee is due to come off the injured reserve list this week. He has to by Thursday, or, by rule, he is lost for the season, and Kazee on Monday confirmed he will be.

“I will be back,” the veteran safety said. “… I will be ready to go.”

A former NFL interceptions leader with a playmaking style and 49 career starts, Kazee figures to inject some life into the a defense that ranks 29th in yards and 23rd in points per game allowed. But he is far from the most impactful player the Steelers are expected to activate off injured reserve this week.

Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt also is eligible to come off IR. Watt declined to speak with media Monday, and the clock for activating him does not expire until next week. But players across the locker room noted Watt’s presence on the field during Monday’s “bonus” practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

“Honestly,” Maulet said, “for everybody (Watt’s return) makes it a whole lot different. You’ve got an MVP guy, right? But also just the work he puts in, it’s just second to none.”

Coming off a season in which he tied the NFL record for sacks, Watt’s positive effect on the defense needs no further examination. But that he could come back simultaneously with a player such as Kazee, who had a strong training camp exemplifying his “ball-hawk” reputation, the Steelers believe could make a transformational change to their defense.

“Both of them are playmakers, so it takes pressure off myself and other guys to make plays,” safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “It puts other guys in positions where they are able to make plays. And having a full defense back is, obviously, going to of course help us out.”

Kazee revealed Monday that he “broke (his) whole forearm” and dislocated his right wrist while making a play during a preseason game. Nine screws and a plate were inserted, another setback during a year in which he was suspended three games for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy and two years after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

“It was frustrating,” Kazee said. “(The preseason injury) was a downside, got to a little dark (place). But I’ve got my kids (a son and a daughter), and they put a smile on my face.”

Kazee has been in his happy place, too, since returning to the practice field.

“He’s high energy,” Maulet said. “He has confidence and brings lot of energy and makes you have fun.”

By the demeanor of the Steelers on Monday, those traits were contagious. The hope is Kazee’s penchant for interceptions is, too. He has 12 in his past 49 NFL games, including an NFL-most seven in 2018.

That’s no accident, either. Kazee set the San Diego State record for career interceptions with 17.

“He knows how to get the ball back,” cornerback James Pierre said. “It’s on his résumé. He’s not afraid to hit. He’s going to come and just add to the team.”

Kazee and Fitzpatrick alluded to three-safety sets the Steelers are now free to deploy. That’s a look they frequently showed during training camp.

“It allows us to be versatile in the secondary,” Fitzpatrick said. “Me and (starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds) out there, I feel like offenses get a good beat on where we are and where we line up and what we’re doing. But if Kazee is up there as a third guy who can also move around and be anything in the secondary, it gives us a different look.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.