PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When he was drafted, Jack Sawyer was going to be a situational player at most. A year where he could learn behind TJ Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith. With Watt and Herbig out, Sawyer will get his first NFL start against arguably the best offense in the NFL.
The 23-year-old has some experience, playing 21% of the defensive snaps this season. He had three tackles in a career-high 28 snaps against the Dolphins last week. Sawyer had seven tackles in Week 2 against Seattle with Alex Highsmith suffering an early injury.
“I’ve just learned a lot from them,” Sawyer said. “I feel like every day I’m learning something new from them to take into game day. They provide so much detail of everything to play the position. Just trying to pick up things every day.”
“Jack is getting better every week,” said Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward. “For a rookie playing this early, he D-Harm, Yahya, they contributed a lot to our group. They just need to keep taking steps. The more you get in these situations, the more you count on different guys. Jack is no different. Jack is going to have to step up this week and we believe he can do that.”
Sawyer has earned praise for the way he attacks practice, even when he was only getting limited defensive snaps. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Sawyer has made the best of whatever he is asked and said that is what young quality defenders do.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he displays that readiness if he gets an expanded role opportunity this week,” Tomlin said.
“I think for a young guy Jack's pretty consistent in terms of what he does, how he prepares, how he works,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “The one thing I always like, when you watched Jack in college, when it was tough and they needed a big play, he was a guy that was around. So, he's not afraid of those
moments. I think he'll be able to step up and give us what we need with an expanded role again this week.”
When he was needed in college, Saywer would usually step up and make a play. In the final three games of his junior season, Sawyer totaled 7.5 tackles for loss with a forced fumble. Last season in the college football playoffs he had 4.5 tackles for loss with seven passes defensed and the huge play against Texas in the national semi-final, forcing a fumble from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, scooping it and returning it 83 yards for a touchdown to go from a potential tie game to a 14-point Ohio State lead in the fourth quarter.
“Just coming in here trying to get better, prepare myself for anything and go out there and play to my fullest potential,” Sawyer said simply, admitting he believes those games in college prepared him for this moment.
The 23-year-old said he will just continue to work, continue to grow in whatever role is needed.
“This is what you live for,” Sawyer said. “This is what you play the game for. Being later in the year, the games get heightened and there is more at stake. It’s exciting and a great opportunity for us.”
And a great opportunity for him.