Joe Schobert watched his college teammate T.J. Watt fight through injuries at Wisconsin

Joe Schobert met T.J. Watt when both Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers were playing for the University of Wisconsin.

Schobert was a walkon from Waukesha, Wis., Watt from 4 miles down the road in Pewaukee.

Schobert remembers how injuries could not stop Watt from reaching his goals with the Badgers.

“When he first got to Wisconsin, he was playing tight end and he had two knee injuries in a row,” Schobert said. “Two full years. He just worked hard and got back, built a heckuva career to that point.”

Schobert doesn’t know if Watt will play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. A groin injury limited Watt in practice Wednesday.

“He’s going to do whatever he can to get on the field and I’ve seen that since I’ve known him,” Schobert said. “I trust he’s going to be smart about his body, but he’s also going to want to get out there and play because he’s a competitor.”

Schobert said the feeling among offensive players seems to change when Watt’s on the field.

“When T.J.’s out there, the quarterbacks (are) antsy, know they don’t have a lot of time to read defenses and read coverages,” he said. “Even if he hasn’t had a successful rush on that side, they still feel him. So, they’re usually a little more hurried in their delivery.

“We have guys behind him who are capable of rushing the passer, but T.J’s T.J. so you know that’s on the quarterbacks’ minds.”