T.J. Watt, a former Wisconsin Badger, was ruled out of this weekend’s NFL playoff game by Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday.
The Steelers will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at noon central at Orchard Park, New York.
Watt injured his knee in the Steelers’ Week 18 victory against the Baltimore Ravens, a game that the Steelers needed to win — with some help from other teams — in order to qualify for the playoffs.
However, it came at the expense of Watt’s health. T.J. Watt, his brother, stated on Monday that his brother had a Grade 2 MCL sprain. In a social media post, he dubbed it a “best-case scenario.”
“Best case scenario for TJ,” wrote J.J. Watt. “Everything else appears to be in order. “A couple of weeks of rest and recovery.”
Watt must now wait to see whether his Steelers can go on a long playoff run in order to offer him a chance to return to the field.
If J.J. Watt’s tweet is correct, the younger Watt might be ready for the AFC Championship Game in three weeks.
Watt finished the season with 19 sacks, despite leaving the game early. He is currently the first defender in NFL history to have led the league in sacks three times, having done it in both 2020 and 2021.
He’s a strong contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an accolade he’s won twice. If he wins this year, he will be able to match his brother’s three NFLDPOY titles.
Watt was named to his sixth Pro Bowl last week, but because to the injury, it’s probable he’ll miss the game. The Pro Bowl games are scheduled for February 4 in Orlando.
Last week, another former Badger, Miami fullback Alec Ingold, was nominated to his first Pro Bowl. Along with Iowa and Ohio State, he and Watt made Wisconsin one of three Big Ten teams with multiple picks.
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