Halicke: After dreadful start, Steelers seem primed for better second half

Yes, in all likelihood, the Steelers will not only miss the playoffs this year, but Mike Tomlin will also suffer his first losing season. The first eight games couldn't have gone much worse. 

But, there is some room for optimism.

The bye week is over, and preparation for the Saints began with an extra practice Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The players came back rejuvenated and put together an energetic practice during a gorgeous day on the South Side, and that energy carried over into the locker room.

If you had a chance to walk in as I did, you might never know this team is 2-6. The optimism is still going strong.

"I just needed to rest, mentally. Just press reset," Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "We have a whole second half of the season left. Just like in a football game, there's a lot of time to make plays in the second half. Come back and win. We've got a lot of football left. Press reset, recharge this past week and go out there and make the plays we've gotta make."

Even though Chase Claypool was traded to the Bears during the bye week, the biggest change to the Steelers in the second half will be the return of T.J. Watt. 

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year hasn't been activated from injured reserve just yet. But, all signs are pointing to his return, possibly even as soon as this Sunday's game. Watt participated Monday in a fully-padded practice for the first time since going down with a pectoral injury in Week 1:

The defense racked up seven sacks and registered five takeaways in the season opener with Watt. His teammates have limped on since his departure, registering only five takeaways and eight sacks in the seven games that followed. 

Whenever it comes, Watt's return will have ripple effects. His teammates up front should have an easier time getting to the quarterback or stopping the run game, and the secondary will have an opportunity to take advantage of more throws made out of less-than-ideal circumstances for the quarterback.

"He's T.J. Watt. He makes plays wherever he is," Fitzpatrick said. "When you have a guy like that, always around the ball as an outside linebacker, he just creates chaos."

But, Watt's looming return isn't the only reason for optimism during the final nine games of 2022. The roughest part of the schedule was always going to be the first half of the season, and that's proved true as the combined record of the opponents from the first eight games is currently 43-26. The opponents' combined record for the final nine games is 32-43-1, and the only two currently over .500 are the Ravens and Bengals. 

And, if you want to get really optimistic, the Steelers are only three games behind the Ravens, who currently sit atop the AFC North, with two critical matchups still remaining. But, if you're not ready to go that far just yet, it's more than understandable. Matt Canada's offense has yet to take any significant strides forward during the first eight games, and now they will have to make adjustments without Claypool in the slot.

Pat Freiermuth figures to be in line for an uptick in productivity in the middle of the field. However, his attitude about it reflects a common feeling inside the locker room -- one that is very healthy.

"To be honest, I really don't care about the extra targets, numbers, stats or anything like that. I just want to do anything I can to help the team win," Freiermuth said. "If that's me catching the ball more and making more plays down the middle of the field, then I'm going to do that. We just want to win. We've gotta get this win this week. Whatever is asked of me, I'm going to do."

If and when the Steelers miss the playoffs and finish under .500, it will hopefully be accompanied by the growth and maturity of many players who figure to be in the long-term plans in Pittsburgh. That's what the Steelers truly need over the last nine games. Certainly more than any outside shot at a 2013-like comeback to salvage a losing season.

But, striving for that goal is a great way to establish a winning culture for a vast group of players that hope to be part of the next contending team in Pittsburgh.

MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE

• In addition to Watt's return, Damontae Kazee expects to be activated from IR this week, which will finally give the Steelers the three-safety look they utilized during training camp.

"It allows us to be versatile in the secondary," Fitzpatrick said. "With me and [Terrell Edmunds] out there, I feel like offenses get a good beat on where we are, where we're lined up. When we're doing stuff like that, when Kazee's out there as the third guy, we can move around and be anything in the secondary. It gives them a more difficult read."

• The return of both Watt and Kazee could really make things easier for all three layers of the defense, especially since the secondary has been ravaged with injuries.

"Both of them are playmakers," Fitzpatrick said of the two. "It takes pressure off of myself and other guys to make plays. Having our full defense back is going to help us out a lot."

• Kazee confirmed he broke his forearm and dislocated his wrist during the preseason finale against the Lions.

"That's all right," Kazee said. "It popped back in place when they did the surgery."

As I wrote in the Point Park University Friday Insider a couple weeks ago, he used that time on IR to serve a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. However, he was more than likely going to miss more than the minimum four weeks, anyway.

• Speaking of the injuries in the secondary, Levi Wallace told me he was a limited participant in practice Monday. It was more geared toward getting him back into action more than preparation for this week, so we might have to wait a while before he makes a return on the field.

• Myles Jack didn't practice Monday, but he told me it was just a rest day. We'll still be watching to see if he misses any time on the practice field this week. Also on the injury front, Chris Boswell kicked a few different times during Monday's practice. He wasn't in full pads (Nick Sciba was), but it's still a good sign that he was kicking.

• Freiermuth isn't the only one who stands to receive more reps in the offense due to the Claypool trade. Steven Sims will see an increased role out of the slot, even though he's a vastly different type of receiver.

However, Sims is taking this opportunity to prove himself worthy of being more than just a return specialist.

"Coaches like big guys," Sims said. "It's always been like that since I was younger, too. You're always going to pick the bigger guy before me, thinking the bigger guy is better than me. But then, time will tell."

• One thing that Sims feels like he can bring to the table on offense is something the Steelers have desperately lacked over the first eight games.

"Run after the catch," Sims said. "That's going to help open more things up for everybody on the outside. Not saying nobody else couldn't have done it. But, that's just something that I specialize in."

• Tomlin had said that part of the reason why they traded Claypool was the trust they had in the depth at receiver behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. But, the play out of the slot will certainly be different than it was before the trade. In addition to Sims, Gunner Olszewski could see some added time in the slot as well, and he had a good rapport with Kenny Pickett during training camp.

"They trust everybody in the room," Sims said. "We provide a different style. Both of us. They trust in that. The versatility we bring in the slot. But I hate to see Chase go."

• Part of the preparation for the Saints begins Monday night. New Orleans is hosting the division-rival Ravens, and some members of the team are talked about getting together to watch the game.

"Obviously, we're going to watch the film," Fitzpatrick said. "But, it's good to watch the pace of how they play -- for Baltimore and New Orleans."