Steelers Injury Updates Steelers News
Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt Is Dealing with a Lingering Injury
Along with dealing with an ankle injury, Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt is also battling a lingering right thumb injury. Sideline reporter Melanie Collins revealed the news during Wednesday’s Steelers-Chiefs game.
J.J. Watt, who was a color analyst for the Netflix broadcast, said the right thumb injury has caused some issues for his brother.
“He honestly said that one bothered him more than the ankle,” J.J. said about T.J’s right thumb injury.
Watt suffered a left low ankle sprain late in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He did not return to the game, and had X-rays that revealed no fracture. He’s been active for the last two games, but he hasn’t recorded a sack and has been rather quiet overall.
It appears that the combination of Watt’s ankle and thumb injury has significantly hindered his ability to rush the passer.
Fortunately for Watt and the Steelers, the team will have 10 days to rest for the regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers are on a three-game slide, losing each game by at least 14 points. Losing three straight by at least two touchdowns hasn’t occurred for the franchise since 1988. So the time off could be much-needed for the reeling Steelers.
Despite the lack of production in the last two games, Watt is still the odds-on favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year with -200 odds, according to sportsbettingdime.com. Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II is right behind Watt with -350 odds.
Out of Watt’s six forced fumbles this year, three have been strip sacks. In addition to the six forced fumbles, Watt enters Week 18 with 61 tackles (40 solos), 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 27 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.”
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