TJ Watt on Steelers training camp skirmish: 'Sometimes you need to stoke the fire'

What’s a training camp without a fight, right? It took the Steelers a week to get into the spirit. And star pass rusher T.J. Watt said it did his heart good to see it.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had given his superstar the day off, so Watt had a prime sideline view of what unfolded on the practice field at Saint Vincent’s College.

Then in a media availability, Watt told reporters what he looks at when chaos breaks out.

“As long as there is good meaning behind it,” Watt said. “Sometimes you need to stoke the fire to see what we are about as a team. That is all (Wednesday) was about. We don’t want it to continue and mess up practice.”

If you missed the event from Steelers camp, here’s what happened. On a called run, new Steelers quarterback Justin Fields broke free on a read option. Cornerback Beanie Bishop and inside linebacker Elandon Roberts gave Fields a hefty chip. It caused Fields to fall to the turf, which probably made Mike Tomlin’s head to explode (in the figurative sense).

We all know that the first rule of training camp is don’t hit the quarterback. So are the second and third rules. Friendly fire simply isn’t cool. So a couple of rookie offensive linemen took exception. First-round draft pick Troy Fautanu shoved Roberts in the back, then Mason McCormick (fourth round) got in on the action with Roberts.

Well, the offense can’t do that to the defense and not expect a response. So second-year cornerback Joey Porter tossed a punch in the vicinity of McCormick. And Fautanu showed off some first-round traits when he bowed up to linebacker Patrick Queen.

Offensive lineman Ryan McCollum did hit Queen, the addition from the hated Ravens.

Here’s a look at some of the Steelers fight action. It’s worth another glance just to sense team spirit.

Big fight. OL made. They hit Fields to
Much. But Fields started it. #Steelers @steelers #nfl #herewego #steelernation #steelerscamp pic.twitter.com/KLKaGBAxFj

— T R (@TimotRice) July 31, 2024

Steelers center Nate Herbig took pride in the o-line youngsters’ actions.

“Nobody is going to hit our quarterback — a cheap shot — and get away with it,” Herbig told reporters. “That is a big emphasis for us as a unit. It’s nothing personal.”

Now Tomlin can’t approve of the skirmish, at least publicly, but he can point out the fight had its uses.

“We got a little bit less than professional and chippy,” said the Steelers head man. “It’s an opportunity to teach and learn. It’s part of this process, and as much as we hate it, we’ll learn and grow.”

Of course, there were other dust-ups. A few reps before the mass event, Herbig and Queen shared some shoves and Herbig’s helmet popped off. Then towards the end of practice, another rookie took on an established vet. That’s when Porter had to separate tight end Pat Freiermuth and rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson exchanged, um, pleasant thoughts.

Bishop explained what he believed happened at Steelers camp.

“We put the pads on, it gets warmer, testosterone starts to build up, and guys want to start to fight,” Bishop said. “It gets (heated), but this stuff doesn’t leave the field.”