Steelers notes: T.J. Watt takes over NFL sack lead, Jerald Hawkins a thrown-to ‘eligible’

With a takedown of Alex Smith during the final minute of the first half of Monday’s 23-17 loss to the Washington Football Team, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt took over sole possession of the NFL lead in sacks. Watt has 12, one more than the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald.

It was the second of three sacks in the game for the Steelers, and the first of two on consecutive plays. The Steelers have had at least one sack in 69 consecutive games, tied for the longest streak in NFL history with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 1999-2003.

Robert Spillane and Stephon Tuitt also had sacks Monday.

Watt has 32 sacks in 31 career home games, registering at least half a sack in 16 of the past 17 games at Heinz Field. Watt, who led the NFL with eight forced fumbles in 2019, forced his first fumble of the season Monday.

But Watt’s attempt to “scoop and score” did not work, and Washington recovered the fumble.

“(The game) leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” he said. “We’ll have to get back to work tomorrow and move on.”

According to sportsbettingdime.com, Watt is an ever-so-slight favorite to win the NFL’s defensive player of the year award. His odds are slightly better than those for Donald, who is an alumnus of Penn Hills High School and Pitt.

Mr. Eligible

Before Monday’s game, the Steelers activated tackle Jerald Hawkins from the reserve/covid-19 list. A year after Zach Banner became something of a folk hero among Steelers fans for being “Mr. Eligible” while serving as the extra tackle, Hawkins became the first Steelers offensive lineman targeted with a pass in recent memory.

On third-and-goal from the 1 with about 7 minutes to play in the second quarter, Ben Roethlisberger threw toward Hawkins near the goal line, but it was too high, and a leaping Hawkins fell to the ground short of the end zone anyway.

Hawkins is the most experienced extra blocker available when the Steelers go to their Jumbo formation. Rookie Kevin Dotson filled that “extra tackle” role against the Ravens.

Inactives

Inactive for the Steelers were third quarterback Joshua Dobbs, defensive lineman Carlos Davis, tackle Derwin Gray and tight end Kevin Rader.

With Gray on the inactives list, Anthony Coyle, activated from the practice squad earlier Monday, was the extra offensive lineman on the game day roster.

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