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PITTSBURGH -- A freak eye injury in Week 5 couldn't keep Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt off the field for long. During the game against the Indianapolis Colts, Watt took a hand to the facemask from Colts tackle Jalen Travis, forcing him into the blue medical tent for evaluation. He returned in the second half of Pittsburgh's 34-22 win, but wasn't at full strength. For the first time in the 2026 regular season, Watt failed to record a tackle or a sack, finishing without a statistic.
Despite that hiccup, Watt's overall body of work through five games remains impressive: 13 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two passes defended, an interception, and a touchdown. The 32-year-old is once again an early-season candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, exactly what the Steelers hoped for after a down 2025 campaign. But how does he stack up against the league's best? Watt is right in the thick of the race, with two serious challengers standing in his way.
Will Anderson Jr. - Houston Texans Edge Rusher & DPOY Frontrunner
The biggest obstacle to Watt's DPOY hopes is Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., one of the league's highest-paid defenders and worth every penny. Through five games, Anderson has been a game-wrecker: 27 total tackles (16 solo), a league-leading 7.5 sacks, one pass defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The Texans may be struggling as a team, but Anderson is certainly not.
Greg Rousseau - Buffalo Bills' Favorite Disruptor
The NFL is dominated by edge rushers, and one of the most disruptive is Buffalo Bills star Greg Rousseau. The 26-year-old has been like a video game cheat code this season, a nightmare for opposing offenses. Rousseau has 19 tackles in four games, with two sacks in each of the first three games for 6.0 total, plus three passes defended. He's also forced three fumbles in four games, using a mix of power and technique to strip the ball.
More Candidates to Watch
Behind Anderson and Rousseau, Watt is the next favorite. His Week 5 performance put him slightly behind in sack totals, but that's just a blip as teams head into the grind of the schedule. Other names to watch include Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner, who has been elite early on, and his teammate, cornerback Byron Murphy, who leads the NFL in interceptions. New York Jets rookie David Bailey is also crushing the competition with 5.0 sacks. And right at the top of the conversation is Pittsburgh's defensive leader, T.J. Watt.