Steelers Dealt Major Blow with T.J. Watt News

PITTSBURGH — Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin officially ruled star outside linebacker T.J. Watt out for the team’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Watt will be replaced by Markus Golden and Nick Herbig, with Alex Highsmith now taking on the superstar role.

Watt had an MRI, which came out as a grade 2 MCL sprain. He was seen wearing a sleeve on his left leg but did not have a brace on and was walking on his own power without crutches. Still, that does not mean that he is ready to play, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes his best-case scenario is missing just two weeks.

Of course, the Steelers would have to win two playoff games, on the road, as big underdogs to get Watt back into the fold, but Monday’s news at least gives hope of a potential return.

Watt’s brother, former NFL star and CBS Sports analyst J.J. Watt, reported on Sunday that Watt does not need surgery and that he would be able to recover after a few weeks of rest, but did not say whether or not Watt could return to action this season.

The Steelers will go forward without him, but Tomlin acknowledged it’s hard to replace a guy like that.

“There haven’t been many times where I have thought about not having T.J., to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “But we have depth at that position. That’s why we went out and thoughtfully acquired Markus Golden, that’s why we drafted Herbig. We’re as deep at that position as we have been in some time. We’re comfortable in the quality of depth.”

But nothing will replace Watt, who ended up as the NFL’s sack king for the third time in his career, the only player ever to do that. Watt’s abilities can not be replicated, and when Josh Allen is in the picture, things are all the more difficult for the Steelers moving forward into this game. But they will try, and they have capable players to give them a chance.