The start of the regular season is just a few days, which has shifted things into high gear with teams making their final preparations.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to roll with rookie outside linebacker T.J. Watt as the starter over former Pro Bowler, James Harrison.
The Steelers have named rookie T.J. Watt as their starting right outside linebacker, making official what has been brewing for much of the preseason.
This had come to be an expected move as during training camp, as the Steelers were discussing using Harrison as the “relief pitcher” to Watt this upcoming season. The 39-year old had signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal in the offseason to stay with the Steelers after a respectable year, recording 53 total tackles with 5.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in his 13th campaign.
The 22-year-old had been selected by Pittsburgh in the first round with the 30th overall pick in this year's draft after a highly productive three-year collegiate career at Wisconsin. He is coming off a strong junior season where he had 59 total tackles with 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. In the preseason, Watt recorded 11 total tackles with two sacks and a pass deflection.
The Steelers will open up the season on the road against the Cleveland Browns.
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