Ben Roethlisberger defends T.J. Watt amid criticism after Week 1

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 16, 2026, 2:26 PM

Last updated Sep 16, 2026

Ben Roethlisberger defends T.J. Watt amid criticism after Week 1
Summary

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger defended T.J. Watt following speculation about his performance as Pittsburgh's edge rusher. Roethlisberger, on his podcast, rebuffed claims of Watt's decline after he made a game-changing interception returned for a touchdown in the season opener. Watt, noted for his ability to turn defensive plays into scoring opportunities, continues to be a standout player, dismissing offseason doubts. The commentary from Roethlisberger comes as discussions around Watt’s impact and rankings among elite defenders persist.

Source Links
By the Numbers
  • T.J. Watt returned an interception for a touchdown in Week 1.
  • Roethlisberger criticized offseason doubts about Watt's abilities.
  • Watt is recognized for altering game trajectories with defensive plays.
  • Ongoing discussions about Watt's elite status continue in media.
Latest Updates
  • 2:26 PMYahoo SportsBen Roethlisberger shuts down absurd T.J. Watt criticism after Week 1
What they're saying
"

Former Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger dismissed critics claiming star edge rusher T.J. Watt was declining.

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days