Mike Tomlin addresses TJ Watt contract talks

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged T.J. Watt’s hold-in for the first time on Tuesday. The Steelers outside linebacker has participated in meetings and conditioning at training camp but has yet to participate in drills, spending team periods conditioning on the sideline.

A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Watt is entering the option year of his rookie contract. If he does not work out a deal, he will hit free agency or get franchise tagged in March.

“We’d like to get T.J.’s deal done, if we can, before the start of the season,” Steelers owner Art Rooney recently said. “That’s the goal. I don’t like to get into those details in terms of the discussions, but we’re going to try to get it done by the start of the season if we can. I try not to get optimistic or pessimistic. I’ve seen these things go so many different ways over the years.”

Pittsburgh Steelers familiar with situation

Watt is not the first Pittsburgh defensive player to hold out before the regular season.

“Not unique at all really,” Tomlin said, via Steelers.com, during his weekly news conference. “You know, that negotiation process is going to run its course. Some run their courses faster than others. If I remember correctly, Cam Heyward had less than 100 percent participation when he was in a similar circumstance a short time ago.”

Heyward inked a four-year extension on the eve of the regular season last fall. The extension, worth $65.6 millions, was signed just in time for the first game week of the season.

Watt could hold off on signing until right before the season like Heyward. The younger brother of Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt does not want to risk injury before signing a contract extension.

What signing T.J. Watt would mean for Pittsburgh

Watt has proven on the field he deserves a new contract. He has been selected first-team All-Pro in both seasons. And he has totaled 29.5 sacks, 77 hits on the quarterback, 15 passes defended, 10 forced fumbles and 23 tackles for loss.

He was also third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2019 and second in 2020. Watt is the pillar of the Pittsburgh defense and is a dominant force. The Steelers have ranked in the top-five in both points and yards allowed in Watt’s two seasons with the franchise.

But while Pittsburgh waits on a decision from Watt, Tomlin is trying to not think about how long the hold-in could go.

“I’m not into the hypotheticals,” Tomlin said. “You know, we’ll deal with today, and then we’ll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow. You can talk all day about hypotheticals relative to that issue and others.”

“The business end is going to run its course. T.J. is highly conditioned; our strength staff is working with him; he’s getting in good work days; and the process is running its course. In the meanwhile, I’m focused on the guys who are working and their level of productivity and what type of days they’ve been having.”

While Watt waits on a new contract, Melvin Ingram has seen more time in the rotation along with Alex Highsmith, Cassius Marsh, and Quincy Roche.