Steelers' TJ Watt Has Major Flaw In His Game According To Browns Rookie Tackle

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 season did not get off to a good start after a blowout loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. With a final score of 30-7, it was immediately realized by the fan base that the preseason hype may have been too much after all. Week 2 will bring another home game and this time, it will be Monday Night Football. The Cleveland Browns will come to town after an impressive Week 1 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh will have a tough hole to dig out of if they begin the season 0-2, making Monday night's matchup pivotal. 

Both teams will enter the game a little banged up even after just one week of play. For the Steelers, the two biggest injuries are surrounding Cameron Heyward (groin) and Diontae Johnson (hamstring). Neither will play for several games. Heyward was placed on IR and Johnson may be next. The Browns lost former All-Pro right tackle, Jack Conklin for the season after he tore his ACL and MCL against the Bengals.

Conklin's absence will bring up an extremely interesting matchup on the outside. Rookie tackle, Dawand Jones, will be tasked with trying to stop 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt from getting to quarterback, Deshaun Watson. It won't be an easy job and Watt has already started off the season on a good note, sacking Brock Purdy three different times in Week 1.

Jones may have the game circled on his calendar after the Steelers showed serious interest in him throughout the pre-draft process, but the chances of him being drafted by the organization slowly fizzled out. He fell all the way into the fourth round and Cleveland finally jumped in and selected him with the 111th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Steelers' Watt Allegedly Has Pass-Rushing Flaw According To Jones

As one would expect, the media was very intrigued by what Jones thinks about going up against one of the NFL's most dominant defenders under the lights in prime time. He would acknowledge how great of a player Watt is, but maybe ran his mouth a little too much when speaking to the media in Cleveland on Thursday. He called out a potential advantage he has over the edge rusher and even noted a flaw in his game when asked about how to contain him.

"Using my length. He kind of leaves his chest open a little bit during the pass game. Using that. There are other things to it," Jones said. "Making sure I get back. He's a great player."

Jones was asked if he expects the Steelers to move Watt all over the place on Monday and while he knows it's a possibility, he realizes he is an inexperienced rookie that Pittsburgh will try and target.

"I think they’ll probably put him majority on my side just because I’m younger, a rookie. They’re going to try to definitely make me a target. But I got to step up to the plate, step up to the challenge."

He's definitely right and him calling out a supposed flaw in Watt's game is bulletin board material. The edge rusher looked fully healthy and was at the top of his game against the 49ers. Jones might be in for a long night, but it shouldn't come as a surprise when the Browns look to run the ball away from the right side as well as get the ball out of Watson's hand quickly.

It would be an extremely disappointing start to the season if the Steelers were to fall to 0-2. The Browns are riding high after a Week 1 win and Pittsburgh is reeling after a tough loss. As early as it is in the season, this is the perfect time to get back on track and jump right back into the conversation in the AFC. Watt will be a key player to help make that happen.

Do you think Jones is in for a long night against Watt on Monday evening? Let us know in the comments below!

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