PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Out last week when the Steelers barely got a finger and no sacks against Joe Burrow. Steelers All-Pro linebacker TJ Watt looks ready to return to the lineup Sunday in Green Bay.
"I feel really good," Watt said. "I went through full practice yesterday. Full practice today. I feel really good with where my body is at and where I'm at for Sunday."
Echoing what the coaches said before the game last week. Watt missing against the Bengals was as much about precaution and preventing a lingering injury as anything.
"Just being really safe with my body," Watt said. "Groin injuries and soft tissue injuries can be very tricky. I'm just being cautious about how would I feel going into a game and listening to my body."
It's not the first time Watt has played at Lambeau Field. TJ started in the first Division 1 football game ever at that stadium, a Wisconsin 16-14 win over LSU. Watt had the second most tackles of his career at Lambeau.
"It will be a special moment just like it was in college," Watt said. "A lot of family and friends at the game. Will be a very special moment, really looking forward to getting back from injury and back on track."
Watt said one of his good friends sits just a row or two above where the Packers come out of the tunnel. He remembers watching a lot of Packers games growing up with his family. Watt only went to a couple in person with his friends.
While only 26-years-old, Watt not the huge Rodgers fan you might thing.
"I was Brett Favre four or five times for Halloween," Watt said. "That's kind of how it was in our family. Once Rodgers starting hitting, I was more of a Houston Texans fan because of JJ."
Not that he doesn't know about Rodgers.
"He's able to do everything," Watt said Friday. "You played in the league this long. Your above the neck intelligence is so great. He's able to make a lot of quick reads when he has to. He's not taking a ton of hits. He's a really good drifter in the pocket. He knows where the pressure is coming from, so he is able to drift away from it. He still has the legs to get out of the pocket as well."
"He does a lot. He makes a lot of guys around him look really good."
While he doesn't know if Alex Highsmith will play on the other side. Watt is optimistic even losing two straight with a struggling offense and six and a half point underdogs in Wisconsin. The fifth-year pro says they are not fazed.
"We are built for moments like this."
