Joe Burrow praises Steelers LB T.J. Watt: 'There's no other defensive lineman'

Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the NFL.

Since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2017, he has registered 401 tackles, 96.5 sacks and 27 forced fumbles.

Watt has also proven he can be disruptive when asked to drop into coverage, recording seven interceptions and 46 passes defensed in his career.

Two of those interceptions have come off Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who recently praised Watt for his versatility on defense.

"Yeah, I can definitely feel [him]," Burrow said on the "Pardon My Take" podcast. "T.J. is a unique player in this league. There's no other defensive lineman that I have to treat like a DB. I have to be conscious about where he's at because he's just going to jump up and catch it. And there's nobody else who can do that. You have to be alert for him in the pass game, which is very unique, I would say."

Watt finished second in the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2023 after recording 68 tackles, 19 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and eight passes defensed.

Many have argued that the 2021 DPOY was snubbed of the award for the second time. However, he is solely focused on doing something he has yet to do in his seven-year NFL career: winning a playoff game.

"For me, it is all about no playoff wins," Watt said , via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. "I am trying to do anything I can do. We have so much turnover year to year and so many new guys that it is trying to learn as much as possible coming from guys from other organizations that have done it and won championships since being in the league."

If Pittsburgh wants to make the playoffs and win this season, it will have to go through Cincinnati at least two times.

Luckily for the Steelers, they have Watt, who has 12 sacks and seven passes defensed on top of the two interceptions off Burrow in his career.