PHILADELPHIA — Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt confirmed after Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that the X-rays came back negative on his left ankle injury.
“Just an ankle roll, Watt said after the game. “The X-rays were negative.”
Watt sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game during a pass rush. Watt was down on the field for a while before walking off gingerly with the team’s medical staff.
Watt went into the blue medical tent and then sat on the bench for a few minutes, as the team’s medical staff was looking at his left ankle. He then walked off into the locker room for further evaluation. Watt walked with a slight limp as he went into the locker room.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also confirmed after the game that Watt is dealing with a low ankle injury.
Watt had seven tackles (five solos), two sacks, two quarterback hits, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble before leaving in the fourth quarter. He now has 11.5 sacks and a league-best six forced fumbles.
With three games remaining, Watt is the clear front-runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year with -190 odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain (+1400) and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney are tied for the second-best odds at +1400. Houston Texans edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. follow at +2000 and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett rounds out the top 6 at +2200.
Out of Watt’s six forced fumbles this year, three have been strip sacks. In addition to the six forced fumbles, Watt entered Week 15 with 47 tackles (33 solos), 9.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.
If Watt wins another DPOY award, he’ll join Steelers legend Joe Greene as the only players in franchise history to win the prestigious award twice.
The one thing missing from Watt’s accolades is a Super Bowl title or even playoff success. He’s never won a playoff game in his career. That’s something he wants to change. He doesn’t want be known for just his long list of individual accomplishments.
“I don’t want my legacy to say that ‘T.J. Watt (accomplished) all these individual things but what happened in the big moments?’” Watt said this past offseason. “That’s what we’re trying to get better (at), and I’m willing to do everything I possibly can and hopefully everybody in the locker room is on the same page.”