During the regular-season finale, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sustained a Grade 2 MCL sprain, as reported by his brother, J.J. Watt.
J.J. Watt shared the news on social media on Sunday, mentioning that “everything else looks pristine.” T.J. Watt left Saturday’s game—a 17-10 victory for the Steelers that kept their playoff hopes alive—after a collision with teammate Montravius Adams during the third quarter. Despite being down for a while, Watt managed to walk to the medical tent and then the locker room unassisted, following the knee injury, and did not return to the game.
Initial indications had suggested concerns about a Grade 3 sprain, but the diagnosis of a Grade 2 still demands several weeks of rest and recuperation.
Securing a wild-card spot on Sunday due to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh faces uncertainty regarding Watt’s availability for the upcoming game due to the seriousness of his sprain.
Speaking about Watt’s injury, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin expressed his disappointment, stating, “Obviously disappointed in that. But, you know, there are challenges in the game of football, there are challenges in life. So we’ll deal with it, whatever it may be.”
Watt boosted his season sack count to a league-leading 19 with two sacks in Saturday’s game.
