The Pittsburgh Steelers are worried about a potential serious left knee injury for their standout player, T.J. Watt, following their recent game against the Ravens. Initial reports suggest it could be a Grade 3 MCL sprain, pending further tests. This news is significant as Watt plays a vital role in the team’s defense and is being considered as a candidate for the Defensive MVP award.
T.J. Watt injured his left knee after securing his second sack in the game. The injury happened when he landed awkwardly following a jump and collision with teammate Montravius Adams. Despite Watt’s desire to return, the Steelers didn’t allow it, and he was ruled out for the rest of the game.Following a play, Watt lay on his stomach, expressing frustration by hitting the wet, muddy turf while teammates surrounded him. After spending some time in the medical tent on the sideline, Watt, who had initially left the field on his own, walked slowly to the locker room for additional evaluation.
According to Elandon Roberts, “T.J. is a crucial part of our team, not just on defense but overall. He’s a great leader, a fantastic person both on and off the field. I hope it’s not too serious. For our entire team, not just the defense, we really don’t want T.J. to be injured.”
During Saturday’s game, Watt had an outstanding performance, securing two sacks and a tackle for loss. This brings his total for the season to an impressive 19 sacks. Watt is not only leading the NFL in sacks but has also made history as the second player ever to achieve multiple seasons with at least 19 sacks, following in the footsteps of his older brother J.J.
Coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic that Watt’s injury isn’t too serious. He mentioned, “I’ll have more information next time we meet. It’s disappointing, but challenges are part of football and life. We’ll tackle it, whatever comes our way.”
In the absence of Watt, the Steelers called on Markus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig to share playing time with Alex Highsmith. Golden, a recent addition to the team, had a key moment by sacking Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley on third down. This led to Baltimore settling for a field goal on their last drive.
Golden emphasized his focus on team success, stating, “While I’ve had success with sacks from hitting the edge, my main goal is to contribute to the team’s victory. I want to compete for T.J. You’ve got to give it your all for a guy like him when he’s down because that’s what he does.”
If the Steelers reach the playoffs and the tests confirm a severe MCL sprain for Watt, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play in the first round. This situation adds to the team’s ongoing challenges in finding defensive replacements throughout the season.
Captain Cameron Heyward recognizes the difficulty, stating, “We need to figure it out, even though it’s a tough task. It won’t rely on just one person. We’ll need to make some adjustments, but as a group handling the pass rush and as a defensive line with outside linebackers, we must step up.”
The Ravens chose to rest key players, including MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, for this game. Tyler Huntley stepped in as quarterback, and both teams faced challenges moving the ball in the rainy and windy conditions.
Mason Rudolph had a solid performance, completing 18 of 20 passes for 152 yards. Both teams lost two fumbles.
Recent history shows the Steelers dominating the Ravens, winning seven of the last eight games, all decided by seven points or fewer. Pittsburgh’s four consecutive wins at M&T Bank Stadium are the most by a visiting team since the Steelers themselves achieved five straight victories from 1998-2002.