Although Ben Roethlisberger‘s pectoral injury will not deter him from suiting up Sunday, the Steelers will be without both their scrimmage yards leader (Diontae Johnson) and their best defender.
Pittsburgh declared T.J. Watt out for its Week 3 game against Cincinnati. Watt suffered a groin injury midway through the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Raiders. The All-Pro outside linebacker managed three limited practices this week and entered the weekend with a questionable designation, but the Steelers will give him the weekend off.
This will be only Watt’s second injury-related absence as a pro. He missed Week 3 of his rookie season, with a groin injury sidelining him for that 2017 contest as well.
Sunday’s Steelers front seven configuration will look quite different, with the team also declaring its other outside linebacker starter — Alex Highsmith — out. The second-year edge rusher is also battling a groin ailment. Stephon Tuitt is on IR, while the Steelers placed nose tackle Tyson Alualu on their injured list this week.
Watt and Highsmith’s absences will leave recent signing Melvin Ingram to spearhead Pittsburgh’s pass rush, which has led the NFL in sacks in each of the past four seasons. The Steelers’ injury issues represent a potential reprieve for a Bengals offensive line that has allowed Joe Burrow to be sacked 10 times through two games.
Lifelong big Steelers fan here. What a mistake giving this guy a contract after he held them hostage all summer. The only player ever worth more than a rookie deal is a QB.
Rookie contract, franchise then let them walk!
That sir is why you aren’t an NFL GM.
The man is simply making a point no need to throw out the imbecile GM quote. And he may end up being correct in the long run, giving an edge rusher QB money is risky.
Franchise tagging a generational defensive talent and letting him walk is not a good move. I don’t see how you can argue with that.
Perhaps you are correct. But once upon a time JJ Watt was also considered a “generational talent” remember? And then his body started falling apart at age 27 and he was never the same. TJ will be 27 next year.
Hopefully Watt proves me wrong!
You have a beautiful smile in your profile picture.
No defensive player is worth the big money. They might be tremendous athletes and flash on the field a few times per game, but they simply don’t win games for you.
I’d argue that. In 2019, the Steelers don’t finish 8-8 without TJ Watt. 8 forced fumbles and 2 INTs. His defense won them football games…
Aren’t you a Denver fan? Let me ask you this: who was more responsible for their Superbowl L win? The defense, or the corpse of Peyton Manning?
Bingo