T.J.

Watt

Watt, 31, and Highsmith, 28, were the starting EDGE rushers last year. Their 24-year-old backup, LB Nick Herbig, signed a four-year, $100 million extension on Tuesday, prompting questions as to whether the Steelers could consider trading away one of their two veterans. Highsmith was not present at mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, but this was reportedly due to a stomach bug, not discontent over his backup’s big payday. Per Rapoport, Watt’s “enormous” contract, coupled with the amount of money the Steelers have invested elsewhere in their EDGE unit, means that they will probably “have a decision to make” in 2027.

As Fowler notes, Steelers EDGE Nick Herbig is a free agent next offseason. Pittsburgh’s No. 3 pass-rusher is expected to be a hot name on the open market. The Steelers could work toward an extension for him before that happens, but they can’t realistically pay Watt, Herbig, and T.J. Watt top dollar. A Herbig extension might make Watt more valuable to the team as a trade asset. Still, it’s hard to believe the Steelers would trade one of the faces of their franchise at the tail end of his prime. How both he and Herbig play in 2026 will determine what GM Omar Khan does next offseason.

The Saints will host the Steelers in a Paris matchup, the inaugural Paris game for the NFL at the Stade de France. The Saints did not play an international game in 2025 while the Steelers will play overseas for the second straight year, defeating the Vikings in Ireland last season. The game will be during Week 7 of the 2026 season, potentially meaning a bye for both teams before or after the game.

Watt isn’t expected to get his usual amount of snaps, but the future Hall of Famer will be able to held as a pass-rusher in sub-packages in the winner-take-all game. The Steelers inactives for Week 18 will be WR Roman Wilson, QB Will Howard, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Tre Flowers, LB Jeremiah Moon and OT Jack Driscoll.

An interview with DC Teryl Austin foreshadowed that Watt may be kept to sub-package work this week, but anything the Steelers can get from him in a must-win AFC North title game will be appreciated. Watt missed Weeks 15-17 after undergoing surprise surgery to repair his lung following a dry needling. He has seven sacks in 13 games started this season.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin previously said Watt needs to get in a week of full practices before being cleared. His limited participation is encouraging, but he is not yet guaranteed to suit up on game day, which means Watt may have played his last snap of the season already. The Steelers (9-7) and Ravens (8-8) are playing for a trip to the postseason on Sunday.

Watt was limited in practice last week but didn’t play on Sunday. Mike Tomlin previously said that Watt needs to get in a week of full practices before being cleared. His limited designation today means that he isn’t likely to suit up this week. Losing Watt will be a big blow to a Steelers defense that will need to keep Lamar Jackson in check to punch their ticket to the playoffs via an AFC North title.

That’s not to necessarily Watt has a good chance given the reporting we’ve already had that he’s a long shot, and the qualifier “in recent weeks” is holding up the optimism. We think Watt has a chance to play, but he’ll probably have to start practicing in full by Thursday for Tomlin to confidently plug him in for the AFC North championship on Sunday night.

“Never say never but not an ideal timeline to be fully cleared,” the source added. PFT also adds that Mike Tomlin told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson that Watt won’t play until he has a “week of practice as a full participant,” meaning the tea leaves could reveal themselves rather quickly on Wednesday. Watt got in three limited practices last week.

The Steelers can win the AFC North today with a victory over the Browns. That would lock them in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC. It would also make their Week 18 date with the Ravens meaningless, and the Steelers would obviously choose to hold him out for that contest. If they lose today, Watt would seemingly be on the field for an AFC North title match versus Baltimore.