Steelers Will Also Rest OLB T.J. Watt, DL Cameron Heyward & C Maurkice Pouncey In Week 17

According to Gerry Dulac, the Steelers also plan to rest OLB T.J. Watt, DL Cameron Heyward and C Maurkice Pouncey in Week 17. 

Pittsburgh is already sitting QB Ben Roethlisberger and starting backup QB Mason Rudolph this week against the Browns.

The team has clinched a playoff berth and the AFC North title, and while it could change its seeding slightly, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has said it’s more important to get certain players to the playoffs healthy given the Chiefs have already locked up the only bye this year. 

Watt is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, but he’ll have to rely on his resume through 15 games for the award. 

Watt, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2017. He’s in the fourth year of his four-year, $9.258 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $1.72 million in 2020.

Pittsburgh exercised Watt’s fifth-year option this offseason for $10.089 million in 2021. 

In 2020, Watt appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and recorded 53 tackles, 15 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and seven pass defenses.