T.J. Watt didn't get as high during his leap out of the tunnel as he normally does Sunday.
The Acrisure Stadium crowd might have been louder than it normally is to make up for it.
Watt made his return to the field Sunday against the Saints, combining for four tackles to help the Steelers beat the Saints, 20-10.
And as loud as the home crowd was loud for his pregame introduction, they matched it when he and the defense walked onto the field for the first time, and when he and Cam Heyward combined for a tackle on the Saints' first play from scrimmage.
"It's fun, man," Watt said. "When you feel like you can control the crowd and get them involved, I'm always going to try my best. It's a competitive advantage. Especially playing at home."
The adrenaline was flowing early, but Watt held up, as did the defense. As a team, the Saints amassed just 186 yards and turned the ball over twice.
"I mean, aside from my legs feeling like wet noodles, that was about it," Watt joked when asked if he was limited in any way.
I mean, does this look like he's limited?
When asked what Watt's return brought to the team, Damontae Kazee answered, "everything."
"You see that crowd when he came out?," Kazee asked. "It was beautiful, man."
While Minkah Fitzpatrick was a late scratch Saturday because of an appendectomy and Miles Jack was held back unless needed, Watt's return gave a glimpse to what this Steelers defense was supposed to look like.
"That's what we're here for, to be able to create the atmosphere like we had today," Watt said. "Hopefully, we can get it again next week. Take it one day at a time and go from there."
One day at a time. How's Monday going to feel?
"Probably won't feel really good tomorrow," Watt said, "but it felt good today."
