5 Steelers that we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend

Stephon Tuitt is the best defender on the Steelers defensive line. That isn’t a knock-on Cameron Heyward or Tyson Alualu either, as both are established and high-quality players. Fully healthy, Tuitt may be one of the best interior defenders in this league and could be argued as the most dominant defender on this talented defense.

At this point, Tuitt has recorded an outstanding seven sacks and 20 pressures. While the stats are good, he consistently shows up on tape pushing his way through opposing blockers like they aren’t there. His combination of size, athleticism, and power make him a force to stop, and he is a constant body in the backfield. This has made him one of the best all-around defenders as he stuffs the run as well as he gets after the quarterback.

His issue has never been talent. Last year, he was playing similarly to this year (dominant), but he suffered another injury that ended his season early. Had he been healthier during the majority of his career, he would easily be listed alongside Aaron Donald as a top defensive lineman in the league. That said, he is only now entering his prime, and could very well make a late-career push as one of the best in the league. All of Steelers nation needs to be thankful they don’t have to face off against Tuitt.