Steelers notes: T.J. Watt responds to furor over ubiquitous uncalled holds he endured vs. Colts

A simple social-media search involving the terms “T.J. Watt, holding” brings up a post on the X account “Bad Sports Refs” featuring an 11-second video of three plays from this past Sunday’s game that show Indianapolis Colts linemen appearing to hold Watt.

No flags were called on any of the plays.

TJ Watt was getting held like crazy on Sunday and couldn’t get a call #PITvsIND pic.twitter.com/3wOx5ChYjc

— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) September 30, 2024

Is Watt still smarting over that five days later? If so, he did not overtly admit it during his weekly media availability Friday. But a reasonable person might listen to what he did say over 2 ½ minutes of public comments and read between the lines appropriately.

During the 27-24 loss to the Colts, Watt’s stat line was limited to two assists on tackles, no sacks, no QB hits and no forced fumbles. Watt was asked why he lacked “splash.”

“Well,” he said, “I don’t know. I mean, there’s many reasons for it. But we won’t get into that.”

Moments later, a reporter referenced to Watt the reels of purported holds on him that are circulating on social media.

“It’s something that I deal with each and every week,” Watt said. “So, nothing new.”

The NFL sacks leader in three of the past four seasons, Watt has three through four games in 2024. Among 111 career NFL regular-season and postseason games, according to pro-football-reference.com Sunday was the 12th in which Watt did not have a sack and/or interception and/or QB hit and/or batted-down pass.

Big-man hurdle

Conservatively listed at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, tight end Darnell Washington dwarfs offensive linemen in the Steelers locker room.

So, imagine what Colts players were thinking as Washington encountered them during a catch-and-run last Sunday that started innocuously but became one of the plays of the day after Washington deployed a stiff arm and hurdle for a 20-yard gain.

OH MY! @_Dwfootball11

???? Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/mQgVEpZA1v

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 29, 2024

“For me, I feel like I have (those skills) in my bag,” Washington said Friday. “(but) it’s just limited opportunity to show it. So when I do get that opportunity and I showcase it a little bit what I could do, I feel like it’s new for the people. But it’s old to me. I have been doing that since high school.”

Washington was a highly recruited player five years ago from Desert Pines, Nev., ultimately signing with Georgia where he was part of two national championship teams. But the Bulldogs had future first-round pick and a two-time winner of the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best college tight end, so Washington’s production was relatively sparse.

A third-round pick last year by the Steelers, Washington was targeted only 10 times with seven catches for 61 yards as a rookie. Through four games this season, Washington has his first NFL touchdown (Week 2 in Denver) and first two-catch game (Sunday).

“The (new coordinator) Arthur Smith offense,” Washington said, “is tight end-friendly.”