T.J. Watt's presence couldn't go unnoticed in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opener against the Atlanta Falcons. With the offense falling flat, it was Watt who strung together a monstrous performance, including two sacks and a pick-six.
And we might already have the reason for his resurgence: proper snap distribution.
This past Sunday, Watt played just 38 of the team's 60 defensive snaps. This ranked ninth on the Steelers' defense and third among Pittsburgh's edge rusher room. This is the split that we've been begging to see.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher snaps in Week 1 vs. the Atlanta Falcons
Player | Week 1 snaps | Snap % |
|---|---|---|
Alex Highsmith | 41 | 68.3% |
Nick Herbig | 39 | 65.0% |
T.J. Watt | 38 | 63.3% |
Jack Sawyer | 23 | 38.3% |
So, why was it good that Watt was outpaced in snaps? It's simple: to keep their oldest player at the position fresher on a snap-by-snap basis.
Because he played roughly 63 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps, Watt had an added jolt of energy when he was on the field and didn't wear down as the game went on.
And this isn't just me claiming this. Watt admitted in his post-game press conference that this is what did the trick.
“Getting less reps, but trying to exert as much as you possibly can on those reps, making them mean that much more. Give a lot of credit to [outside linebackers coach] C.J. [Ah You] for keeping track of it. Helped us play and be more fresh today.”
Compared to what he's been used to, this is an entirely different split. Last year, for example, Watt logged 812 defensive snaps in 14 games (82 percent). He was overworked on game days.
Steelers' 2025 edge rusher snap distribution
Player | 2025 snaps per game | 2025 snap % |
|---|---|---|
T.J. Watt | 58 | 82% |
Alex Highsmith | 48 | 72% |
Nick Herbig | 40 | 60% |
Jack Sawyer | 17 | 25% |
There's already a night-and-day difference between new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and previous Steelers DC Teryl Austin. Watt was overworked as a 31-year-old last season, which made him less effective on a per-play basis. We've seen Watt's efficiency as a pass rusher dip significantly since 2024.
Thankfully, Graham's new plan with edge rusher snap distribution might be exactly what Watt needs to revitalize his career in his early 30s.
There are reasons the Steelers are capable of executing a split all season similar to the one we saw in Week 1 against the Falcons. Nick Herbig is an ascending pass rusher without much wear-and-tear on his body (and somehow, he's still only 24 years old). Meanwhile, second-year player Jack Sawyer has proven he can be reliable against the run and offer the occasional splash off the edge.
The one trap Graham and outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You can't fall into is overplaying Watt when times get tough. There are bound to be moments this year when the Steelers are trailing or when they get off to a rocky start that they will be tempted to leave Watt on the field all game.
This can't happen, or the Steelers will risk Watt taking a major step back in pass rush efficiency.
Watt is coming off one of his best games we've seen in years, and it's largely because he was kept so fresh. He's currently on pace to play 20 fewer snaps per game than he did last season.
While we can't expect this exact split to continue, we need to see something similar moving forward. This snap distribution is exactly what I've been banging the table for years, and it's going to help T.J. Watt be the best version of himself in 2026 if Patrick Graham and the Steelers stick with it.
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