Steelers strive to mitigate Raiders TE Darren Waller

That Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller can be a matchup problem for opposing defenses isn’t much of a mystery, so rest assured Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is aware of Waller heading into Saturday’s scheduled meeting against him.

“Get him on a safety, get him on a linebacker,” Austin said, “and it’s like stealing. It really is.”

The Steelers are out to avoid Waller’s theft of yards, first downs and touchdowns. The 30-year-old, seven-year NFL veteran ranks in the top three among NFL tight ends in catches (271) and receiving yards (3,229) over the past four seasons. Though a nagging hamstring has limited Waller to six games and 19 catches this season, he’s only two years removed from a Raiders franchise-record 107 catches in 2020.

Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane on Thursday called Waller “one of the top receiving threats as a tight end in the NFL.”

“He’s extremely athletic, long, a vertical threat down the field,” Spillane said. “He does everything you could ask a tight end to do.”

Darren Waller is BACK.

Waller Anytime Touchdown (+260) ✅pic.twitter.com/JgzZnSnjGb

— Covers (@Covers) December 18, 2022

Waller had five catches for 65 yards when the Raiders won in Pittsburgh last season, and he’s coming off having a 25-yard touchdown among his three catches in his return after a two-month injury absence during Las Vegas’ 30-24 win against the New England Patriots last week.

Opposing tight ends have combined to score only three touchdowns against the Steelers this season.

“(Waller) is a big target down the middle,” Austin said. “We’ll be well aware of him in the red zone.”

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