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The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense entered the 2026 season under a microscope, with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Alex Highsmith expected to anchor a unit capable of carrying the team. Two games in, that defense has delivered exactly as anticipated.
Former NFL cornerback and current ESPN analyst Domonique Foxworth has taken notice. Even with Joey Porter Jr. sidelined, Foxworth believes the Steelers' defensive stars are performing at the level many projected for them last season.
Foxworth pointed to the defense's ability to keep the team competitive despite inconsistent support from the offense. Through two weeks, the unit has shouldered a heavy load and continued to make timely plays.
"This is what you expected from the Steelers defense last year," Foxworth said. "I guess I should say that I'm not surprised, but I am a little bit without Joey Porter [Jr.], too. They're attacking Jamel Dean probably more often than on the other side, but he's doing fine. He's good enough. They're staying in these games without the support of an offense that's gonna hold onto the ball for a long time or put up big numbers. I've been super impressed with this defense and, of course, T.J. Watt is impacting games. Watt, [Cameron] Heyward, [Alex] Highsmith, these were the players that we thought would be awesome last year and they weren't consistently. They are right now and through two weeks they've been impressive."
The key difference Foxworth identified is consistency. Last season, the Steelers had the names and expectations, but the production didn't always match. This year, Watt has already made his presence felt, including a pick-six against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, along with four sacks and seven tackles for loss in that game. Highsmith added two sacks of his own.
That production has helped the Steelers survive despite an offense that hasn't consistently controlled games. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense have had stretches where they struggled to sustain drives, putting additional pressure on the defense to prevent opponents from creating separation.
Foxworth also noted that opposing offenses have been willing to test Jamel Dean, especially with Porter Jr. unavailable. How effective that defense becomes may be even more crucial as the schedule toughens. In Week 3, the Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals and then a Thursday night game against the Cleveland Browns. Division games like those can be tough on defenses because mistakes are more costly.
For now, the Steelers' veteran defense has been performing up to expectations. Watt is impacting games, while Heyward and Highsmith continue to play their roles. According to Foxworth, the difference this time is that those players are finally delivering that level of play consistently.
Originally reported by yahoo.