Pittsburgh Steelers Addicts who can’t wait and want a chance to evaluate this entire team against higher quality opponents may want to hook up with the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The bye week for Pittsburgh came at a critical time. Pittsburgh’s reset took place right in the middle of the season. All six of the Steelers AFC North games take place in the second half of the season. For Pittsburgh, priorities have changed. Extending Mike Tomlin’s streak of finishing .500 or better to 18 and threatening New England’s record 20 is a secondary mission in 2024.

For one segment of the roster, the reset is exactly what they needed. For various reasons, some guys needed a week off more than others. For these four names, a little R&R&R (rest, relaxation and reset) was crucial.

Carrying a team on your back at 30 is a grueling effort. Especially, for a future Hall of Fame geezer. This season, Watt has been on the field for 92 percent of Steelers snaps, an increase of 10 from last year, when he played in all 17 games. Injuries to Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith forced Watt to play the hero on almost every pass.

In contrast, Watt’s likely runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, Will Anderson played 128 fewer snaps (65 percent of Houston’s total defensive plays) than Watt in an extra game. Although he was rested during the second half of Houston’s loss to the Jets, Anderson resting for 35 percent of Houston’s snaps shows how much Pittsburgh relies on Watt.

The Steelers’ injuries were so bad a month into the season that defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal joined the outside linebacker rotation. The Steelers will need Watt to stay fresh for the second half of the season. Highsmith, 27, and Herbig will have to take on more responsibility while rushing to the edges if they want a new Watt in January.

If you hear the name of offensive linemen on a national television broadcast and it’s not a Tush Push, it’s usually because someone in the trenches royally screwed up. Every week, Broderick Jones gains notoriety for his atrocious pass blocking. Jones’ seven sacks allowed and 21 pressures in eight starts speak to the extent of the regression in his game since his freshman year when he allowed 24 pressures and five sacks in 11 starts. Jones’ overall grade of 46.4 from Pro Football Focus ($) ranks 113th out of 126 tackles.

Jones was originally drafted in the first round by the University of Georgia to play left tackle, but the Steelers opted to move him to the opposite side to take advantage of his potential as a high-quality run blocker. He returned to right tackle after losing rookie Troy Fautanu for the season and continued his downward spiral. If there is any long-term hope for Jones to justify his draft status, it will likely be at his starting left tackle position, which is currently occupied by Dan Moore.

Hopefully, Jones spent his bye week visiting a mentalist who could trick his brain into believing that his right was left and his left was right, that Pittsburgh could cook with hot grease. Unfortunately, Jones blocked like he was sliding on hot grease throughout the first half of the schedule. In the Steelers’ Monday Night Football victory over the Giants, Jones committed a facemask penalty on the first drive that negated a George Pickens touchdown.

Cam Sutton’s return to Pittsburgh may have happened under the worst possible circumstances. Yet after serving his eight-game suspension, he is finally eligible to practice with the Steelers for the first time. Sutton wasn’t just suspended from playing games. He was also not allowed to practice for half the season.

First, the Steelers need to find a role for Sutton. The outside corner position is locked down by Joey Porter Jr. and offseason acquisition Donte Jackson. The Steelers’ long-running defensive backcourt matchup was expected to move struggling Beanie Bishop Jr. to slot corner, but in recent weeks the rookie has taken over after rebounding from early struggles season which marked the weakest link in the secondary. Sutton plied his trade as a do-it-all defensive back during his first six seasons with the Steelers, but after a year and a half away, he will have an adjustment period ahead.

The second half of the season is a crucial test for Benton, who is notoriously worse at pressuring interior quarterbacks during the second half of games. Alex Kozora, analyst at Steeler Depot Examining Benton’s production revealed how mightily Benton struggled in the second half after offensive linemen adjusted to his signature club move.

In eight games, Benton has generated 16 tackles, one fumble recovery and four pass breakups, but Pittsburgh’s 2023 second-round pick must develop and showcase counterattacks if he wants to make an impact on the defensive line.