Buffalo Bills: 4 early storylines for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers

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Dec 13, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) rushes the passer as Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Daryl Williams (75) blocks in the second quarter at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Will T.J. Watt play against the Buffalo Bills?

If the Pittsburgh Steelers were to beat the Buffalo Bills, it looks like they will have to do it without one of their top defensive players and last year’s NFL sack leader, T.J. Watt. The Steelers outside linebacker has been in a contract dispute with the Steelers all through training camp and as Jeremy Fowler tweeted on Monday, the game against the Bills could be in doubt.

Week 1 feels in doubt absent a new deal in short order. Watt stays in excellent shape but Steelers value practice-in-order-to-play with pretty much all players. https://t.co/BLsgjcBfwT
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 6, 2021

Due to changes to the CBA, players are essentially unable to hold out and skip practices. This forces players to show up and so Watt has been at practice but participating only in individual drills and then working off to the side as Brooke Pryor tweeted.

When considering the Steelers also lost Bud Dupree in free agency, the once daunting Steelers pass rush may not be as much of a concern for the Buffalo Bills if T.J. Watt is to miss this game. It will be worth monitoring whether or not T.J. Watt practices more this week.

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