The Football Feed

Steelers confirm grim status of T.J. Watt

Are they going to be able to win without him?

The Football Feed

The Football Feed

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their season with a positive 10-7 record after a slow start to the year, and are back in the postseason after having missed out last year. However, they suffered a significant loss during their 17-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. 

All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt was injured, and an MRI later confirmed that he suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain. And while the injury thankfully wasn't worse, it's going to be enough to keep him out of their upcoming postseason game against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. 

Watt, who was the NFL leader in total sacks this season with an impressive 19, will be a "significant" loss for the Steelers, according to head coach Mike Tomlin.

"Life without T.J. and obviously playing without T.J. is significant," Tomlin said. "But we played without a lot of people this year. It's just another opportunity for us to strike a blow for team and to display what team really means. (It's a) collective of individuals that work together in an effort to produce an outcome.

"It's not gonna be a one-man job in terms of replacing T.J., just like I stood before you and said similar things when Cam Heyward missed a block of games. It is going to be a committee approach. Even in doing so, we had better strengthen output in other areas. But that's ball. There's an attrition component to it. That's what makes it the ultimate team game. I'm excited about preparing this group (to play)."

The Steelers continue their preparations to take on the Bills at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo this Sunday; kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM EST. Can the Steelers advance without their top defensive player in the lineup? 

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Source: NFL.com