J.J. Watt has his brother’s back.
During “Thursday Night Football” between the Steelers and Titans, pass rusher T.J. Watt brought down Tennessee quarterback Will Levis after the signal-caller completed a five-yard check-down to Derrick Henry.
What seemed initially like a short gain turned into a 20-yard pickup after Watt was flagged for a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer.
After the flag, his older brother, the five-time All-Pro, spoke out against the ruling on X.
“Roughing the passer calls are out of control,” he wrote.
It’s likely that his brother was called for the personal foul because of a stipulation in the NFL’s rulebook.
“A defensive player must not unnecessarily or violently throw him down or land on top of him with all or most of the defender’s weight,” Part B of the rule reads. “Instead, the defensive player must strive to wrap up the passer with the defensive player’s arms and not land on the passer with all or most of his body weight.”
Despite the rule, J.J. Watt, who was seen hugging his brother on the sidelines at Acrisure Stadium, didn’t agree with the call, and neither did a number of his followers on social media.
“They shouldn’t call it roughing the passer anymore, it’s not rough. Motion for “disrupting the passer” Who’s in?” one X user decided.
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“As a Ravens fan who hates the Steelers even I have to say, that was ridiculous! Let them play football!!” wrote another one in Watt’s defense.
“The zebras are the new x factor,” wrote another.
However, at least one thought Watt was only making the comment because it was his brother who was flagged.
“Bias?” they wondered.
Tennessee continued on in the drive, settling for a field goal.
T.J. Watt did exact some revenge, sans a flag, when he sacked Levis without his helmet, effectively ending a chance at a touchdown.