Steelers' T.J. Watt: Racks up three sacks in Week 1
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Watt tallied five solo tackles, including three sacks and a tackle for a loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass defense during the Steelers' 30-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
The Steelers struggled in many areas during Sunday's regular-season opener, but Watt was a major bright spot for the team. He racked up all three of the team's sacks and forced multiple fumbles for the first time since 2019. Watt's health has been one of his biggest concerns in recent seasons, but if he can remain on the field in 2023, he showed Sunday that he should continue to be one of the league's top defensive contributors.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Another disruptive outing
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Watt totaled four tackles (three solo) and one sack during Sunday's 16-13 win over the Ravens.
Two of Watt's four tackles went for a loss, including a 10-yard sack of Tyler Huntley in the third quarter, and the superstar pass rusher also tallied three QB hits. Watt's overall numbers aren't as prolific as previous years due to a seven-game absence earlier in the season due to a pectoral injury, but the 2017 first-round pick is still a premier defender and will look to keep the Steelers' playoff hopes alive with a strong performance against the Browns in Week 18.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Ready to roll Sunday
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Watt (ribs) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
After stringing together three consecutive limited sessions ahead of the Week 13 matchup in Atlanta due to a ribs issue, Watt has since been cleared for action and should return to his usual starting pass-rushing role Sunday. When the 28-year-old is healthy and on the field, he's one of the league's elites considering he's collected 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble across just four contests played this season.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Optimism about status
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Head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic about Watt (knee) being able to play Sunday against the Saints, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Watt was designated to return from IR on Oct. 26, but he was held out of Week 8's loss to the Eagles. However, after a Week 9 bye, it appears Watt is still trending in the right direction and has a chance to play Sunday against the Saints. The potential return of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will certainly be a boon to the Steelers' defense if he can play.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Won't be activated ahead of Week 8
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Watt (knee) won't be activated off injured reserve ahead of Week 8, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Watt was designated to return from IR and returned to practice Wednesday, but he'll remain sidelined for a seventh straight contest while rehabbing from a torn pectoral and arthroscopic knee surgery. The decision not to rush Watt back for Sunday's matchup against the undefeated Eagles makes sense given the Steelers' Week 9 bye. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year's next chance to suit up will come Nov. 13 against the Saints.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Not ruling out Week 8 return
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Watt (knee/pectoral) has not ruled out playing Sunday against the Eagles, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Watt has been on injured reserve since Sept. 15, but he has a chance to return in Week 8 against the Eagles. He said Friday that he's "not sure yet" if he will play in the contest, as he wants to see how his body responds to being a participant at practice. It seems unlikely Watt will be able to go versus Philadelphia, but his mindset bodes well for a potential return in Week 10 after the Steelers' bye week.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Designated to return from IR
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Pittsburgh designated Watt (knee/pectoral) to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Watt returned to practice Wednesday, starting a 21-day window for him to be added to the active roster. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year tore his left pectoral during the season opener and was placed on IR, but he also underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery during his time away, delaying his potential return. Regardless, Watt is nearing the end of his rehab and will start gearing up for game action. Given the extended time he's missed without practicing, Watt appears unlikely to make it back for Sunday's game against the Eagles, and with the Steelers on bye in Week 9, a return to the lineup Week 10 for a Nov. 13 matchup with the Saints looks like the most plausible outcome.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Set to avoid surgery
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Watt won't require surgery for his torn left pectoral muscle and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After receiving multiple medical opinions on the injury he sustained in the Steelers' Week 1 win over the Bengals, the star linebacker was determined not to have suffered any damage to his pectoral tendon. As a result, Watt will be able to treat his injury through rest and rehab rather than surgery, which would have put him at risk of missing the majority of the season. At this stage, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has ruled out Watt for only the team's Week 2 matchup with the Patriots, but those invested in the 27-year-old in IDP leagues should count on him being sidelined for at least the next four games, barring a very swift recovery. With that in mind, Watt is a likely candidate to get placed on injured reserve in the coming days to afford the Steelers some more roster flexibility in the short term. Malik Reed, whom the Steelers acquired from the Broncos shortly before Week 1, is the favorite to replace Watt as the starter at outside linebacker opposite Alex Highsmith.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Ruled out for Week 2, as expected
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While Watt (pectoral) has been ruled out for Week 2, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he "won't make any commitments beyond that," Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
The star pass rusher is expected to face a recovery time of around six weeks if he doesn't need surgery, and the Steelers seem optimistic that he may have avoided a season-ending pectoral injury. If Watt ends up being placed on IR, it will rule him out a minimum of four contests. In any case, for at least Week 2 versus New England, Malik Reed appears likely to handle an increased role on defense in Watt's stead.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Seeking second and third opinions
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Watt (pectoral) will receive second and third medical opinions about his injury Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Watt is pursuing information to inform him between two possible recovery timeframes. If the star pass rusher needs to undergo surgery, it likely will spell the end of his 2022 season, while he could face a mere six-week rehab timetable if he can avoid a procedure. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year's overall impact for Pittsburgh's defense can't be understated, so much will hinge on the results of Watt's consultations Tuesday.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Ties single-season sack record
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Watt recorded five tackles (three solo), a sack, a forced fumble and a pass defense in Sunday's 16-13 OT win over the Ravens.
Watt forced a fumble in the first quarter of Sunday's regular-season finale but wasn't credited with the sack. However, he took down quarterback Tyler Huntley late in the first half to tie Michael Strahan's single-season sack record. Although the 27-year-old missed two games during the 2021 campaign, he tallied 64 tackles (48 solo), 22.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and seven pass defenses across his 15 appearances.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Closes in on Strahan's record
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Watt recorded five tackles, four sacks and two pass breakups in Monday's 26-14 win over the Browns.
Watt led a ferocious Pittsburgh pass rush that took quarterback Baker Mayfield down nine times and batted down five passes at the line of scrimmage. After the big game, Watt is up to 21 sacks on the season, 1.5 shy of matching Hall of Famer Michael Strahan's single-season NFL record.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Ready for Week 15
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Watt (groin) was a full participant at practice Thursday, clearing any concerns about his availability for Sunday's matchup with the Titans, Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Watt left the Steelers' Week 14 loss to the Vikings in the first half with a groin injury, failing to return to the field at all in the second half. After opening the week as a limited participant Wednesday, the linebacker was able to ramp it up to log a full practice Thursday, solidifying his availability for Week 15 against the Titans. In 11 games this season, he's recorded 48 tackles, including a career-high 16 sacks, while also deflecting four passes and forcing four fumbles.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Ruled out
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Watt was ruled out from returning to Thursday's game against the Vikings due to a groin injury, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Watt came out of the locker room for the second half in street clothes after previously being considered questionable to return. It remains to be seen whether the injury is serious, or if the Steelers are simply playing it safe given the lopsided nature of the game. Watt recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit prior to his exit.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Dealing with groin injury
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Watt suffered a groin injury during Thursday's game against the Vikings and is questionable to return, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Watt was spotted on the sideline without his helmet midway through the second quarter. He's been beat up throughout the season, dealing with a previous groin injury as well as hip and knee issues. Watt's absence will only further the struggles of a Steelers' defense that has been gashed by the Vikings throughout the first half.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Off reserve/COVID-19 list
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Watt was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list and will play Sunday against the Ravens.
Watt managed a second negative test Saturday, prompting the Steelers to remove the All-Pro linebacker from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The 27-year-old tested positive for the virus Monday so it's unclear what level of conditioning he might have, but it's a pivotal move regardless given the nature of Sunday's divisional matchup against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: No injury designation
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Watt (hip/knee) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
Watt upgraded to full practice participation Friday after limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, so he'll be good to go for this key clash between AFC North rivals. He'll end up missing only one game as a result of the two injuries Watt suffered in Week 10.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Out versus Chargers
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Watt (hip/knee) will not play in Sunday's Week 11 matchup with the Chargers.
No surprise here, as Watt was unable to practice all week. An MRI earlier in the week revealed no structural damage to his hip. In his absence, Derrek Tuszka will presumably replace him at outside linebacker opposite Alex Highsmith.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: MRI comes back clean
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Watt (hip) had his MRI come back clean Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Watt's availability going forward is still uncertain but a clean MRI is obviously a positive for the 26-year-old. Watt is still sore, however, but he will try to return for Week 11 against the Chargers.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Suffers knee injury as well
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Watt was diagnosed with hip and knee injuries Sunday against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Watt initially was noted to have a hip issue, but it was also revealed that he injured his knee. His progress throughout the week will be key to determine whether he'll be able to play next Sunday at the Chargers.
