Some wondered this week whether T.J. Watt’s career would eventually outshine his brother’s on separate roads to the Hall of Fame. Well, the Steelers’ edge-rusher surpassed his older sibling in one category on Wednesday afternoon – Defensive Player of the Week awards. The younger Watt joined Packers rookie Edgerrin Cooper in claiming the respective AFC and NFC honors, the league announced.
Watt joined his new Pittsburgh quarterback, Russell Wilson, as the only former Wisconsin players to win eight-or-more weekly honors in the NFL. Wilson owns 11, just ahead of former Badgers T.J. Watt (eight) and J.J. Watt (seven). In Steelers history, only Ben Roethlisberger (18) has more than Watt (eight). Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu won the honor seven times.
In Pittsburgh’s 26-18 win on Monday night over the Giants, Watt had seven tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Monday marked the third time Watt has registered at least two sacks while forcing and recovering a fumble. Since the Steelers selected him in the first round (No. 30 overall) of the 2017 draft, no other NFL player as many such games.
Cooper is the first Packers rookie to earn Defensive Player of the Week since another linebacker, Clay Matthews, garnered the award in Week 13 of 2009. In Green Bay’s thrilling 30-27 win at Jacksonville last week, Cooper posted a sack among eight tackles and also forced a fumble and broke up a pass.
He’s also just the second rookie from Texas A&M to ever win Defensive Player of the Week, joining Von Miller, who won it in Week 11 of the 2011 season.
Cooper and the Packers (6-2) battle Detroit (6-1) in the marquee game on the Week 9 NFL schedule (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX). The Steelers are on their bye before playing Nov. 10 at Washington (6-2), site of the Daniels Miracle Victory.
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