As the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, it shouldn’t be surprising that T.J. Watt regularly makes plays and disrupts the offense in the training-camp setting for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt, though, made no such plays during last year’s camp. That’s because he wasn’t taking part in team drills. This year, Watt is back — and so are the “sacks” and forced turnovers and tackles in the backfield when the Steelers are playing 11-on-11.

Watt on Wednesday at Saint Vincent College conceded he missed that aspect of camp last year, when he was “holding in” while negotiating a contract extension.

“A little bit, yeah,” Watt said. “It helps with leadership just as far as you can only do so much from the sidelines. And as hard as I was working last year, you’re not able to actually show it on the field. So, it’s definitely a refreshing to be able to be out there.”

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 3, 2022

Watt, who tied the NFL record for sacks in a season last year, is a primary reason the Steelers’ first-team defense has consistently gotten the better of the play when it has been facing the offensive starters during the first week of camp. Not unlike what he does against most hostile opponents during regular-season games, Watt is a regular wrecking plays in the offensive backfield.

Watt also has been demonstrative in celebrating when the defense makes a “splash play” during practice, be it himself or someone else.

“I think part of it is just in my role now and being more of a leader, just trying to set the tone and understanding that it’s very hard to make plays,” Watt said. “At the end of the day, we have to remember that we’re having fun. And I know a lot of guys, younger guys, have so much going on mentally — if they’re in the right spot, they’re doing the right thing, (etc.), that you can’t forget at the end of the day it’s very tough to make a play and when you make them, you’ve got to celebrate. We just try to feed off the crowd and as a defense, we always enjoy that.”

Watt during Tuesday’s practice was involved in what he called “a little skirmish” with rookie wide receiver Calvin Austin III, drawing Austin’s ire as he was standing over him along the sidelines after Austin was stopped following a gain on a shovel pass.

“Just sometimes you black out and you are just trying to have fun, getting people involved,” Watt said.

Fun? The 6-foot-4, 252-pound Watt was asked if he thought the 5-9, 162-pound Austin was having fun.

Watt laughed.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Probably.”

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