TJ Watt is in a league of his own when it comes to NFL pass rushers. Well, technically, he and Reggie White are in a league of their own.
The latter joined the Pro Football Hall of Famer as the only two players with 90+ sacks during their first 100 career NFL games since individual sacks were first tracked in 1982 on Sunday. For some unknown reason, the Bengals decided to just … not block Watt … during the fourth quarter.
It was the easiest sack of his career.
However, for all of the good that comes with the youngest Watt brother, there has been plenty of bad. Not in terms of his play, but in terms of how he plays.
A large contingency of NFL fans believe that T.J. Watt is a dirty player. Especially after his extremely late hit on Sunday.
Cincinnati’s backup quarterback, Jake Browning, completed a pass to wide receiver Trenton Irwin on 2nd-and-9 from his own 12-yard-line. Not-so shortly after he released the throw, Watt came in and crushed him from behind.
There was a solid four-count between when Browning let the ball go and first contact from Watt.
Fortunately, and somewhat surprisingly, the officials threw a flag. They couldn’t let Watt get away with such an insanely egregious late and called him for roughing the passer.
Even though the wrong was righted by the officiating crew, a man who goes by ‘GPM OF THE MILITIA CLEVELAND BROWNS’ on X went on an all-time rant about the late hit and Watt as a player. Browns fans hate the Steelers and anyone who hates the Steelers hates Watt by default.
He is starting to develop a reputation as a dirty player, if he doesn’t have one already! The latest late hit in the history of late hits did not help to dispel that narrative.