The Pittsburgh Steelers received a bittersweet gift over the weekend, securing a coveted spot in the postseason with the help of the Tennessee Titans. However, the celebration was tempered by the news of star linebacker and team MVP, TJ Watt's injury. Ian Rapoport delivered the update on Monday morning, revealing that Watt had suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain.
Associated Press
Steelers star linebacker TJ Watt leaves game with an injured knee in poor weather conditions in the Steelers' Week 18 regular season finale.
Steelers' TJ Watt's Timeline To Return
As the Steelers prepare to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1:00 PM Eastern Time in Buffalo, they do so with the knowledge that they will be without Watt.
"With the Steelers officially in the playoffs, and star TJ Watt dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain, sources say the absolute best-case scenario for this injury is to play in two weeks with a brace. So to get Watt back on the field, Pittsburgh likely needs to win a few."
While this news is far from ideal, it does offer a glimmer of hope compared to the initial fears of a grade 3 MCL sprain or even an ACL tear. Losing your star player, arguably one of the league's top defensive talents, just before embarking on a postseason journey is undoubtedly a brutal blow.
USA Today
Alex Highsmith (56) and TJ Watt (90) celebrate a turnover against the Baltimore Ravens.
However, the silver lining in Watt's injury is that it doesn't involve a torn ACL or a more severe ailment. This provides a glimmer of hope for both the Steelers and Watt as they prepare to make a playoff push without their disruptive force. Hopefully this will add an element of motivation for the Steelers defense to get Watt back on the field for the playoffs.
Watt had been having another incredible season in 2023, finishing once again as the league leader in sacks with a total of 19. Going into the week 18 regular season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, he was tied for the lead with Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson at 17 sacks. Watt added two more sacks against Tyler Huntley before exiting the game late in the third quarter.
Patrick Smith / Getty Images
Steelers TJ Watt tied the official sack record with this sack on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley.
For Steeler Nation and the team alike, the road to seeing Watt back on the field this year now appears to be a challenging one. As the seventh seed in the playoffs, Pittsburgh must secure at least two victories to provide Watt with the opportunity to return with a brace. That means they'll have to win the Wild Card game against the Bills and win the Divisional playoff game. If they do that the Steelers could see Watt back in the AFC Championship game.
However, with the resurgence of the offense under Mason Rudolph, the Steelers have shown promise, fueling hopes of a postseason run that could reunite them with their star linebacker.
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