Let's get to it:
BILL WALKER FROM CHARLOTTE, NC: In last Sunday's game against the Jets, T.J. Watt did not have a sack. Do you know how many games in his career T.J. did not have a sack?
ANSWER: I'll begin with the raw numbers, and then I'm going to provide some other statistics to provide perspective. As of the game vs. the Jets, T.J. Watt has appeared in 111 regular season games, with all of those being starts. As of today, he has 101 career sacks. During his career, there have been 40 games in which Watt did not record a sack.
Now here are the numbers that I believe provide some perspective:
• Of the 40 games in which Watt did not record a sack, 17 of those came during his first two NFL seasons.
• Besides the games without a sack, Watt's career contains 28 games in which he has recorded more than 1 sack.
• Of his seven full seasons in the NFL so far, he has finished only 3 seasons with more games with no sacks than with games with more than 1 sack.
• In 2021 when Watt won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, he played in 15 regular season games and had more than 1 sack in 8 of them.
• In 2023, when Watt deserved to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, he played in 17 games and had more than 1 sack in 6 of them.
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MIKE ROBEY FROM TILTONSVILLE, OH: The Steelers have a quarterback conundrum. Both will not be on the roster in 2025. Do we trade one for the right return by Nov. 5, and if so, which one? By waiting we possibly risk nothing in return as both are free agents at the conclusion of this season.
ANSWER: I disagree with so much regarding your submission. First of all, there is no way of knowing at this time whether Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will be on the Steelers roster in 2025. As of this writing both have the potential to become unrestricted free agents in March 2025, but you stating unequivocally that neither will return is a wild guess. Maybe both will want to return, and the Steelers will have to make a choice. Maybe both will want to return, and the Steelers will keep them both. But that's next year, and since the idea is to win some playoff games this year, what sense does it make to trade either Wilson or Fields? And what do you think a team would be willing to give in a trade for a player who could become an unrestricted free agent in March? A late third-day draft pick? C'mon. You're better than this.
ANDREW TRAPP FROM WEST MIFFLIN, PA: The block-number throwback uniforms always draw a chorus of calls to make them permanent. Do you see that ever happening, or does the team prefer to keep them for "special occasions?"
ANSWER: In my opinion, the "special occasions" vibe has some value in that the fans get excited about games when the block-jerseys are to be worn – and pairing them with the gray facemasks adds a touch more electricity – and I also sense the players like the look. The same can be said for color rush uniforms, which the Steelers announced will be used for the Monday night game against the New York Giants. Here's what Pat Freiermuth told Teresa Varley about color rush: "It's an awesome uniform. It brings the collective together. It's something different, something to look forward to, to get up for. When you wear a different uniform in a game, it's cool. Plus, all black is a sweet uniform. It's cool."
ERIC SCHIER FROM DOWNINGTOWN, PA: I liked what Russell Wilson did in his debut. Obviously he isn't as mobile, but he stretches the field and makes better decisions. However, I'd like to see them use Justin Fields inside the 10-yard line. His ability to run in that space would add a threat and would improve their chances of getting the touchdown. Is that too unconventional for the Steelers?
ANSWER: Packages within games for Justin Fields are in the future, I believe, but Russell Wilson is one of the most highly-rated red zone quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2023 with the Broncos, Wilson ranked fifth in the NFL in red zone touchdown passes, and he threw only 1 red zone interception in his 60 attempts. Again, I believe the Steelers plan to utilize Fields in some way during the 10 games following their bye, but the notion that they need an alternative to Wilson at quarterback in the red zone is misguided.
STEVEN APESOS FROM MILFORD, OH: You wrote after the win over the Jets that the Steelers, with Russell Wilson, now have the potential to develop the offense they will need for the next 11 games. I would guess part of that development would be to find plays to use Justin Fields in red zone situations. Are those some of the changes you expect?
ANSWER: As I explained in the previous answer, Russell Wilson has been statistically very good in the red zone. Some more detail: In 2023, Wilson had 16 red zone touchdown passes, completed 70.2 percent of his passes and threw just 1 interception in that area of the field. Wilson's legs may not be the weapon that Fields' are, but if you go back to the fourth quarter vs. the Jets – Wilson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson on a third-down play where he got a good pre-snap read of the defense and made an anticipatory and accurate throw vs. a defense that looked to be expecting the ball to go to George Pickens. That's what I mean by being able to develop the kind of offense the Steelers will need as this season progresses.
LARRY HART FROM DAHLONEGA, GA: When the 1974 Steelers Super Bowl team members were introduced on Sunday night at halftime at the Jets game, Terry Bradshaw was conspicuously absent. Do you know why?
ANSWER: Terry Bradshaw is part of the FOX Sports NFL Pregame Show, and then stays through the end of the 4:30 p.m. games to be part of any postgame warp-up. Typically, all of that is shot in Century City, Ca., where the FOX Studio is located. With pre-show prep and makeup and all of that, it makes for a very long day at the office. I don't believe it was physically possible for Bradshaw to be there.
Here is a list of the players from the 1974 Super Bowl Champions who were introduced at halftime of the Oct. 20 game vs. the New York Jets:
QB Terry Hanratty, PK Roy Gerela, HB Rocky Bleier, CB Dick Conn, SS Mike Wagner, CB J.T. Thomas, FS Glen Edwards, SS Donnie Shell, HB Frenchy Fuqua, LB Ed Bradley, WR Frank Lewis, FB Kamal Salaam-El (formerly Reggie Harrison), CB Mel Blount, LT Jon Kolb, RT Gordon Gravelle, RG Gerry Mullins, G Rick Druschel, T Dave Reavis, DT Charles Davis, WR John Stallworth, TE Randy Grossman, WR Reggie Garrett, TE Larry Brown, WR Lynn Swann, and DT Joe Greene.
Also in attendance: Representing FB Franco Harris were his wife, Dana, and son, Dok; representing LB Andy Russell was his wife, Cindy; representing C Mike Webster was his wife, Pam; representing LB Marv Kellum was his son, Wes; and representing DE Dwight White was his daughter, Stacey.
THOMAS HUZELLA FROM ALEXANDRIA, VA: Understanding that both Najee Harris and Justin Fields have fifth-year options, do you think there is any possibility the Steelers would consider extending a long-term proposal to either player before the end of this season?
ANSWER: The deadline for exercising the fifth-year options on the contracts of Najee Harris and Justin Fields, both of whom were selections in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, expired in May. And once again – but for the very last time I will address this same issue of negotiating player contracts during the regular season – the Steelers are not going to violate their own rule by negotiating player contracts during the season.
BILL JACKSON FROM WOONSOCKET, RI: When the Steelers blocked a field goal attempt during the Jets game, why didn't they take possession of the ball at the original line of scrimmage?
ANSWER: Because the rule is that on missed field goals, the opponent takes possession of the ball at the spot of the kick, not at the line of scrimmage. The field goal attempt that was blocked by Dean Lowry traveled beyond the original line of scrimmage, and so it was treated just like any other missed field goal attempt.
CARYL MANISCALCO FROM TONOPAH, NV: This is about trying to find out and not knowing where else to go. When Beanie Bishop was interviewed after the Jets game, he was asked what he was going to do with the two intercepted footballs. Bishop said, "I'm going to ask Aaron Rodgers to sign them." Can you find out if he did ask? And if so, did Rodgers show sportsmanship and class by signing them?
ANSWER: Beanie Bishop has said that he has a couple of connections among the players on the Jets roster, and his plan is to reach out to them and see if they could reach out to Rodgers to help facilitate his attempt to get one or both of the footballs signed.
ROD KEEFER FROM EDMOND, OK: The Steelers' injury-riddled offensive line suddenly looks deep and more than adequately effective. It was great to see Ryan McCullum step in and show what he could do at center. In your opinion, is Dan Moore Jr. having a Pro Bowl caliber season so far?
ANSWER: I'm in no position to judge Dan Moore Jr.'s play in relation to the other left tackles in the AFC to come up with an intelligent projection of whether his play to this point is deserving of Pro Bowl recognition. But being deserving and getting the necessary votes are two different things. What I mean by that is that in the last Pro Bowl, there were only 3 offensive tackles voted to the AFC squad, and as Tunch Ilkin always said about such things, "Guys usually are voted in one year after they deserve to go and one year longer than they deserve to go." What I believe is that Moore has been the best offensive tackle on the Steelers roster in 2024.
JOE WERNER FROM WEST HENRIETTA, NY: With both indoor and outdoor practice facilities at the team's disposal, does Mike Tomlin have hard and fast protocols for when practices are held indoors vs outdoors? For example, are practices always held outdoors if that week's game will be played outdoors? Or is it more a fluid situation, based on where the most productive work can be accomplished on a particular day.
ANSWER: Coach Mike Tomlin prefers to practice on grass whenever possible because he believes it's a way to help take care of the players' bodies. He is not afraid of rain, but lightning is a no-go, and he doesn't shy away from practicing outdoors on the grass when it gets cold unless the cold compromises the footing.
