There remains no resolution regarding the offseason saga between the Pittsburgh Steelers and superstar linebacker T.J. Watt.
The two sides have yet to be on the same page on a possible contract extension with Watt, who sent a loud message to the Steelers by not showing up in the mandatory minicamp. That’s not an entirely surprising development, considering all the noise about his desire to get a new big deal from Pittsburgh, but is absence from the camp was still concerning.
“Certainly we’d like him to be here, but certainly not surprised by where we are,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said about Watt’s absence (h/t Will Graves of the Associated Press). “We’ve expressed the desire to get the business done, he has as well, and so we’ll continue to work. We’ve been here before.”
Watt, who will turn 31 years old in October, is on a contract that will expire at the end of the 2025 NFL season, one that has a cap hit of $30.41 million.
Pittsburgh Steelers vet rues Watt’s situation
Watt’s contract standoff has become a sidelight that could cause further distraction for the Steelers, as they go deeper into their offseason preparation for the 2025 NFL campaign. For longtime Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cam Heyward, Watt’s absence in the minicamp is just a continuation of an “unfortunate” situation.
“It’s unfortunate,” Heyward said, per DK Pittsburgh Sports (h/t Andrew Vasquez of Steelers Wire). “You want to keep football, football — but you have to understand the business of the game. They have a job to do. And, you know, it’s kind of funny how everybody shines a light on everything besides the football player. You just want it done. You want to be respected, you want to be locked in, and no one questions who you are or what you put towards it.”
Hopefully for all parties, this drama will have a positive end, as the Steelers look to turn their full attention to getting ready for the 2025 season.
