One man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. That’s the adage around Pittsburgh. Losing T.J. Watt isn’t something you want to gameplan before but that’s the spot the Steelers were in after Week One. It’d be unreasonable to ask one man to fill those big shoes but the one player who has benefited the most isn’t even an OLB. It’s rookie DeMarvin Leal, who has carved a path to more consistent playing time in Watt’s absence. And the rookie keeps impressing DC Teryl Austin.
“I think that one thing it does is it’s forced [DeMarvin Leal] into play and I think he’s flashed some really good stuff,” Austin said, via team transcript, of adjusting post-Watt injury.