Even with the extra day after the Steelers and Bills game was postponed, T.J. Watt will still not suit up on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport. Due to the game being moved, the team could have made Watt active despite giving him an out designation on Friday, but that won’t happen.
Watt had been declared out on Tuesday by head coach Mike Tomlin with a left knee injury, so his announcement was not noteworthy, but the Steelers did not put an injury designation on any other player for this week’s game.
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.
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.