From a distance, T.J. Watt taking Steelers rookie LB Alex Highsmith under his wing

T.J. Watt has spent the past month mentoring a teammate he likely still hasn’t met in person.

Since the NFL Draft concluded April 25, the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker has been in the ear of rookie third-round pick Alex Highsmith, who was picked to provide depth at a position sorely needing it heading into the 2020 season.

All contact has been done on a virtual basis because of the coronavirus pandemic that has kept most teammates from personally interacting.

“Once Alex was drafted, I reached out to him and we’ve talked a lot on the side,” Watt said this week during an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I told him from the start that if you have any questions, don’t feel like you’re bothering me. You can always reach out to me whether it’s anything from drill work to an actual alignment or an assignment.”

Highsmith, taken with the No. 102 overall pick out of Charlotte, doesn’t have the same luxury afforded to Watt three years ago when he was taken in the first round to enhance the Steelers’ pass rush. Watt was able to participate in rookie minicamp in 2017 and other offseason work, including organized team activities.

This year, rookie minicamp was canceled, and OTAs, scheduled to begin Tuesday, remain on hold because of the pandemic.

Watt, though, has taken it upon himself to ease Highsmith’s transition to the NFL.

“He’s going to get the same playbook that I have, and I’ve been doing it for three years now,” he said. “I know this is a weird time for a lot of people who don’t have all of the equipment necessary to do all the drills. He doesn’t know every single drill we do here in Pittsburgh. I’m able to help him and send him videos.

“He can send me videos. I told him I’m here to help. I’m not here to (undermine) guys and say I’m better than him and not going to help him. I’m here to help him as much as I can because he’s going to help us win football games down the road.”

With starting outside linebackers Bud Dupree and Watt playing 90 and 86% of all defensive snaps, respectively, last year, the Steelers are looking for someone to replace Anthony Chickillo as the top backup in the rotation.

Ola Adeniyi, entering his third year, figures to get the first crack based on his familiarity with defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s system. Highsmith, who had 15 sacks as a senior, could be ticketed for special teams duty until he gets up to speed.

The Steelers led the NFL with 54 sacks last season and have ranked first or tied for first in all three of Watt’s NFL seasons. Watt has 34 1/2 career sacks, including a team-high 14 1/2 in 2019 when he was a candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“This is Blitzburgh, man, we send the heat a lot,” Watt said. “We’re very comfortable with it. I don’t see us shying away from it at all. We’re very good in our disguises. As we grow together, we’re only going to get better.”

The question is whether the Steelers can replicate that success without much on-field preparation. The start of training camp remains up in the air, and nobody knows how much practice will take place prior to the season.

“As defensive players, we do a lot of reacting,” Watt said. “We can’t go out there and get as many guys to go to the park and practice things like running routes, pulling around the corner and blocking certain guys. We just have to react. We don’t get that luxury. It comes down to discipline and trusting that each and every guy is watching as much film as he can, and he’s staying ready so we don’t have to get ready once we get to Pittsburgh.”

Watt was interviewed by SiriusXM NFL Radio to promote the Fox television series “Ultimate Tag” that he is hosting along with brothers J.J. and Derek. J.J. Watt is producing the series along with his younger siblings.

The show airs 9 p.m. Wednesday nights.

“It’s just a game everybody can relate to,” T.J. Watt said. “Everybody grew up playing tag.”