Pittsburgh Steelers rookie OLB Jack Sawyer started the first game of his NFL career on Sunday versus the Detroit Lions. The Steelers needed him with both T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig unavailable. He did not turn in any big splash plays in his first start. But he did finish the game with five total tackles, a tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits.
Ahead of the game, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he saw Sawyer trending upwards. But what did he see from Sawyer’s first start since he starred at Ohio State?
“When given an opportunity, man, Jack continues to prove that he belongs,” Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly press conference, per video from the team’s YouTube channel.