T.J. Watt's knee injury reportedly Grade 2 MCL sprain, prognosis in doubt for playoffs

BALTIMORE — The knee injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt on Saturday is reportedly a sprained MCL, leaving his status in doubt after the Steelers qualified for the playoffs that begin next week.

Watt was injured with 3 minutes, 59 seconds left in the third quarter of Saturday’s Steelers 17-10 win at the Baltimore Ravens when he was collided into by Steelers defensive lineman Montravius Adams. Watt squirmed in obvious apparent pain and was attended to by training personnel before gingerly walking to the medical tent for evaluation. Soon thereafter, he walked slowly to the locker room.

A short time later, the team announced Watt would not return.

JJ Watt, T.J.’s brother, posted on X on Sunday that it is the “best case scenario” and that it is a Grade 2 MCL sprain. JJ Watt said it requires a couple weeks of rest and recovery.

Best case scenario for TJ.

Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Everything else looks pristine.

Couple weeks of rest/recovery.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 7, 2024

Wild-card round playoff games are played Jan. 13-15.

During his postgame news conference, Mike Tomlin said he would pass along more information about Watt’s injury during his next news conference, likely Monday or Tuesday.

“Obviously disappointed,” Tomlin said of Watt’s injury, “but there are challenges in the game of football, challenges in the game of life. So we’ll deal with it whatever it may be.”

Watt, the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, had two sacks Saturday to give him a league-most 19 for the season. He joined his brother, J.J., as two of the four players in NFL history to twice have at least 19 sacks in a season. T.J. Watt also is in line to become the first player in league history to lead the league in sacks three times. Headed into Sunday’s games, no other player had more than 17 sacks.

“T.J. is a big part of not just our defense but our team,” inside linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “Great leader, great guy on and off the field. Hoping it’s not that bad.”

After the game, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said he shared texts with Watt.

“That’s my brother,” Highsmith said. “Hate to see injuries like that happen, especially to a guy like him. Hope and pray everything is OK.”

The Steelers’ backup outside linebackers are veteran Markus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig.

“It’s a tall ask,” Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward said of replacing Watt. “It’s not going to be one guy. We are going to have to mix some things up. But as a pass-rush crew and as a d-line and outside linebackers crew, we have to step up.”

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