The worst is confirmed for Steelers' T.J. Watt
The most important defensive player on Pittsburgh is injured.
The Football Feed
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt was injured during his team's regular season finale against the Baltimore Ravens and wasn't able to return. The injury was revealed to be a Grade 2 MCL Sprain, and while that wasn't the worst possible outcome, it's significant enough to keep him out of action for Pittsburgh's upcoming postseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
The fact that Watt won't play after leading the NFL in sacks with an impressive 19 this season is a significant setback. The fact that the team is 1-10 in games that Watt doesn't play since his drafting in 2017 also doesn't bode well.
However, head coach Tomlin decided to remain optimistic, stating the truth that his team has had to deal with injury woes all year and that this won't be the first time that they're without a key player this season.
"Obviously playing without T.J. is significant, but to be quite honest with you, we've played without a lot of people this year," Tomlin said. "It's just another opportunity for us to strike a blow for team and to display what team really means, a collective of individuals that work together in an effort to produce an outcome. It's not going to be a one-man job in terms of replacing T.J. ... Just like I stood before you and said similar things when Cameron Heyward missed a block of games, it is going to be a by committee approach.
And thanks to Watt's absence, Tomlin believes that the Steelers can strengthen their other areas to make up for the big hole.
"We better strengthen our output in other areas because T.J. is one of a kind, but that's ball," Tomlin said. "There's an attrition component to it. That's what makes it the ultimate team game."
The Steelers and Bills will kick off from Highmark Stadium in Buffalo this Sunday starting at 1:00 PM EST.
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