Pittsburgh Steelers rookie safety Ryan Watts had his 2024 season end before it even began, as he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday, one of two rookies to see their seasons come to a close on cut-down day.
Watts, the team’s sixth-round draft pick out of Texas, suffered a neck injury called a stinger during the team’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, on the last scrimmage play before the Lions knelt the clock out.
He laid on the playing surface, face-down at Ford Field for several minutes before he eventually was able to get to his feet and walk off the field with assistance. Head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that he was still being evaluated.
Watts was at practice on Tuesday, but did not participate. The extent of his injury is unclear, but he will now spend the entire 2024 season on the Steelers’ injured reserve list. Watts has three seasons remaining on his rookie contract, and will be eligible to re-join the team next spring for the 2025 season.
Rookie outside linebacker Julius Welschof also was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Welschof suffered a knee injury against the Lions after recording three sacks in three preseason games.
A native of Miesbach, Germany, Welschof was the Steelers international player pathway roster exemption after joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Charlotte. But his injury forced the team to place him on IR, instead of waiving him to the practice squad, where he could have been elevated at a later point this season. The extent of his injury is also unknown.
Welschof has two seasons remaining on his deal and will also be able to re-join the Steelers as an exempt player in 2025.