Steelers notes: No need for veteran holdovers to explain Ravens rivalry to newcomers

T.J. Watt has been lauded for years by rookies and other newcomers to the Pittsburgh Steelers for his selfless tendency to help explain the nuances of the defense and share his knowledge on the skills and moves for elite pass rushing.

But when it comes to the Steelers’ heated rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens, Watt doesn’t say anything.

“I don’t really have to,” Watt said after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “ ‘Mike T’ (coach Mike Tomlin) sets the floor really well in the team meetings. And if you don’t understand after those, you’ve got something wrong with you.”

Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game is for first place in the AFC North. The Steelers (7-2) are on a four-game winning streak, and the Ravens (7-3) have won seven of their past eight.

Then again, the teams could be winless, and the college-like feel of the rivalry would heighten the intensity.

And as such, Tomlin defers on any Knute Rockne-like speeches or spliced up highlight videos of big plays in Steelers-Ravens games of the past.

“I don’t really think you need to,” outside linebacker Nick Herbig said. “Everybody in the building (already inherently) understands.”

Ag-new to the team

Lamar Agnew didn’t know if or when he would return to playing football this season, but he had an inkling of where.

It was no surprise to Agnew that the Steelers signed the 5-foot-10, 190-pound wide receiver/return specialist — a 2017 All-Pro and a 2022 Pro Bowl pick — to their practice squad Tuesday.

“To be able to come midseason while they’re 7-2 and playing really good football, it’s kind of cool just to see it,” Agnew said. “I watched it on TV every week because I came here for a workout right before the season started, so I had kind of an idea where I might be.”

Drafted as a defensive back by the Detroit Lions, Agnew returned 29 punts for 447 yards and two touchdowns, including an 88-yarder, to earn All-Pro honors as a rookie. He switched to wide receiver in 2020, then signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Agnew has averaged 10.3 yards on punt returns and 25.5 yards on kick returns — with touchdowns of 100 and 102 yards — and has been versatile on offense. He has averaged 9.7 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns and has 33 catches for 263 yards with a touchdown.

But Agnew missed four games with a shoulder injury last season and has been sidelined since suffering a fractured left leg on a 48-yard catch in Jacksonville’s 26-0 win over the Carolina Panthers on New Year’s Eve.

“I feel like I’m getting my explosiveness back. Obviously, I’ve got to get back into football shape,” Agnew said. “That was probably the first time in my life since I’ve been playing football that I wasn’t in an OTA or training camp. There was some good to it. I got to chill at the house a little bit. At the same time, you miss the game. You’ve been doing this for so long, you’ve been programmed that in September, August and July I’m supposed to be playing football. It feels good to be back, just to be in the locker room.”