Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt suffers leg injury vs Cardinals
Already down starting quarterback Kenny Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost linebacker T.J. Watt in the fourth quarter to a leg injury. The team’s sack leader needed attention on the sideline and went to the medical tent before joining his teammates on the bench as they trailed the Cardinals 17-3. Though he returned to the bench, he continued to receive medical attention from a trainer.
Without Watt on the field, the Steelers gave up a 9-yard rushing touchdown to James Conner to go down 24-3 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Prior to his injury, the linebacker had five tackles with a half sack and a tackle for loss. Finally healthy this season after missing seven games in 2022 with a torn pectoral muscle, Watt led the league coming into Week 13 with 13.5 sacks.
Last week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin went so far as to call Watt “the best defensive player on the planet right now.”
“Not only for the defense but for our football team,” Tomlin said, via the team’s website. “There is a lot to learn from him in terms of how he goes about his business, how he works to maximize his talent level. What he does to maintain a level of production.
“Let’s be honest. T.J. is the best defensive player on the planet right now. And he proves that week in and week out with the plays that he delivers us.”
A long-term injury to Watt would be the last thing the Steelers need as they try to keep postseason hopes high.
Kenny Pickett ruled out vs Arizona
The Pittsburgh Steelers sent quarterback Kenny Pickett to the blue medical tent on Sunday in the second quarter versus the Atlanta Falcons and he was questionable to return with an ankle injury and is now officially out for the remainder of the game. After a goal-line dive, Pickett was slow to get up and required some help getting off of the field.
The Steelers inserted backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky to go for it on fourth and short, but running back Najee Harris failed to cross into the endzone. The starting QB was 8-for-11 for 75 yards prior to the injury.
Although Pittsburgh had little hope of a comeback effort, Trubisky managed to find Diontae Johnson for a touchdown to make it 24-10 late in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers and Cardinals had to wait out two weather delays that kept the game going well into the second quarter of the late window games.