PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His fellow defensive captain and a pair of players from his position group all said Friday morning that they communicated with TJ Watt. Understandably they didn’t want to get into his condition. What they did say about the situation and their thoughts.
“TJ is a really good friend of mine,” said Cam Heyward Friday before practice. “One thing we always care about is how the man is doing. You never want to hear anything like that happen, more concerned with how he is doing on a friend level and a brother.”
“That’s my dog,” said linebacker Nick Herbig. “I’m praying for him. Praying that everything is going to be alright.”
“I care about him more than a football player,” said rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer. “You never want to see something like that happen and what he means to us and this organization. It’s one of our brothers, hopefully he gets back soon and healthy.”
Sawyer said he texted him Friday morning and believes there still is a chance for him to play Monday night against the Dolphins. Most reports are skeptical, if he can’t Heyward and others have confidence in the group.
“I know that TJ has full trust in me and the room and the group that we are going to be able to pick up the slack for him,” Herbig said. “Obviously you can’t replace a guy like that, Hall of Famer, the best in the league, the best to ever do it. It’s hard to replace a guy like that, but we are going to do everything in our ability to make sure we do the right things by him.”
“I feel like I’m getting better each week,” Sawyer said. “Getting more comfortable at this level each week with the scheme and just trying to help this team win any way I can.”
Herbig used the phrases of the ‘standard being the standard’ and ‘next man up’ that Mike Tomlin usually recites. The 24-year-old said Watt has helped develop the group well for a circumstance like this.
“I think TJ has done a great job of being a leader, not just in the room, but in the whole building, the whole organization,” Herbig said. “I think he rubs off on people in the right way. I’m not worried at all because we have great guys, great leaders who will pick up that slack for TJ.”
“I think that’s he’s prepared, not just myself, but a bunch of the younger guys in that sense to be able to take on that larger role, not just as a player, but as a leader.”
“I’m just praying for him and hoping he gets better, miss him,” Sawyer said.
“We’ve been reaching out to him,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “It definitely scary situation, tough situation. I’ve been praying for him.”
With still a number of questions, good wishes are the best his teammates and friends can do right now.