Steelers' T.J. Watt helped off field after apparent knee injury vs. Ravens
Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt, moments after he picked up his 19th sack of the season, went down with an apparent knee injury. He’s out for the rest of the game.
As his teammates took a knee, athletic trainers tended to Watt, the Pittsburgh MVP this season. The Steelers are in Baltimore to take on the Ravens. If Pittsburgh wins, then the Steelers will need either the Bills or Jaguars to lose, Sunday, to make the post season.
The injury happened late in the third quarter. Watt was helped off the field. However, he walked without much of a limp back to the lockerroom for a more extensive evaluation. A Steelers spokesman posted on X that Watts won’t play the rest of the game.
Steelers and Ravens playing in rainy, chilly Baltimore
Weatherwise, it’s a nasty game at M&B Bank Stadium. It’s raining and temperatures are hovering in the hiigh 30s. It’s made for a mostly defensive game. The Ravens already have clinched the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC. So they’re resting several players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson.
However, early in the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph connected with Diontae Johnson for a 71-yard touchdown. That allowed Pittsburgh to take a 14-7 lead.
Watt had been enjoying an excellent game before the injury. He’d picked up two sacks against Ravens quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley to give him 19 for the season. His 19th sack was a special moment for Watt and his family. The only two players in NFL history with multiple seasons of at least 19 sacks are T.J. and big brother J.J. Watt, who played for the Texans and the Cardinals.
Coming into the final game of the regular season, T.J. Watt and Bengals standout Trey Hendrickson were tied for the NFL lead in sacks. Each had 17. Hendrickson will need two sacks Sunday against the Browns. Cleveland is resting quarterback Joe Flacco, so Hendrickson may have an easier time getting multiple sacks.