Steelers defensive snap counts, Week 3: Who played most vs. Bengals?

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense played a crucial role in their close Week 3 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, with their snap counts providing insight into which players were most involved in the game. From three players who appeared on every snap to cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. gaining the starting nod, the defensive snap counts highlight the contributions of several key players.

CB Jalen Ramsey and LB Patrick Queen both appeared on every snap, accounting for 100% of the defensive playing time. S Jaquan Brisker, S Rayshawn Jenkins, CB Jamel Dean, LB T.J. Watt, CB Asante Samuel Jr., LB Alex Highsmith, LB Payton Wilson, DT Cameron Heyward, DT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig, CB Daylen Everette, DT Derrick Harmon, DL Yahya Black, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, LB Jack Sawyer, CB Brandin Echols, and LB Cole Holcomb all played a significant role as well.

The standout player in terms of snap count was LB T.J. Watt, who played 44 snaps, which represented 77% of the defensive playing time. This marked a significant increase compared to his limited appearances in the previous weeks, where he played 38 snaps (50%) in Week 1 and 31 snaps (60%) in Week 2. The Steelers strategically limited Watt's playing time to keep him fresh for Week 3, but his impact was evident in his substantial snap count.