First Call: J.J. Watt gives health update on T.J.; 'TNF' game could have big impact on Steelers

Thursday’s “First Call” has a health update on Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler T.J. Watt from a family source.

We get word on the status of a few banged-up Baltimore Ravens too. We also get the rundown on how the “Thursday Night Football” game impacts whoever wins the AFC North.

And we preview the Penguins’ Thursday night skate in Tennessee.

‘Watt’ is the latest?

Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt is trying to recover from an ankle sprain he suffered in Philadelphia in time to play against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Future NFL Hall of Famer J.J. Watt provided a health update on his All-Pro younger brother during Wednesday’s “Pat McAfee Show.”

"TJ has a low ankle sprain but he is walking around better and feeling better than you would initially think..

I know he's gonna wanna be out there and he's gonna do everything that it takes to be out there"@JJWatt #PMSLive #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/V9yET0A765

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 18, 2024

“We’ve got a low-ankle sprain there. X-rays are negative,” Watt said during his weekly ESPN appearance. “It’s one of those things that you just roll it really hard, and it’s very painful — very tough to utilize because you’re a pass rusher on the edge, turning the corner on that ankle, specifically putting an insane amount of pressure into it.”

Watt said the brutal schedule his brother and his Pittsburgh teammates are facing won’t help matters.

“When you add that with the fact that they’re playing three games in 11 days, it is very difficult. But he is walking around better and feeling better than you would initially think,” Watt continued. “I know he is going to do everything it takes to be out there. So we’re going to see what happens.”

T.J. Watt was a limited participant in practice Wednesday. After missing seven games in 2022, Watt played the entire regular season last year before suffering a knee injury and missing the playoff game in Buffalo. He has yet to miss a game in 2024.

With 11.5 sacks in 14 games, Watt is tied for third in the NFL.

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Concerns of their own

The Ravens aren’t exactly injury free.

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) and OLB Odafe Oweh (ankle) were added to the team’s injury report Wednesday after being limited in practice. Neither of them had an injury designation Monday.

Two starters appeared as limited participants for a second straight day: safety Ar’Darius Washington and right guard Daniel Faalele.

As for running back Justice Hill, he missed practice for a personal issue.

Ravens injury report Wednesday

-WR Rashod Bateman (foot) and OLB Odafe Oweh (ankle) were added after being limited in practice

-RB Justice Hill missed practice for personal reasons

-Two starters remain limited for 2nd day: S Ar'Darius Washington and RG Daniel Faalele pic.twitter.com/dhxYpo1kcc

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 18, 2024

Hill accounted for 44 yards from scrimmage in Game 1 against the Steelers last month. Bates chipped in with 30 yards on two catches as the Steelers won 18-16.

Down the road

The “Thursday Night Football” game will have a significant impact on the AFC playoff picture. Specifically, it could go a long way toward dictating who plays the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs.

If the Steelers (10-4) win the AFC North — which could happen as early as Saturday with a win in Baltimore (9-5) — they would most likely be the No. 3 seed in the playoff bracket.

The No. 6 seed (also known as the second wild card) would be the team that visits Acrisure Stadium in the first round of the playoffs. That could end up being the Baltimore Ravens again. Or, it might be the winner of Thursday night’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

Los Angeles won the first meeting between the clubs in Denver, 23-16. The Chargers are a three-point favorite at ESPNBet.

Baltimore is currently the top wild card team in the No. 5 slot. At present, they are en route to visit the AFC South champion Houston Texans. Denver is sixth at 9-5, and L.A. is in the final wild card spot at 8-6.

A look at the playoff picture if the season ended today ????⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QWtRchqWmx

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 18, 2024

The Steelers have beaten all three of those teams once already. So if Baltimore should knock off the Steelers on Saturday and eventually win the division, the Steelers would most likely travel to Houston in the first round as the No. 5 seed or go back to Baltimore from the sixth spot.

The Texans (9-5) are at Kansas City (13-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday before the Steelers-Ravens game at 4:30.

Pens and Preds

Winners in seven of their past 10 games, the Penguins (14-14-5) are heading on the road for a pair of games against the Nashville Predators (9-17-6) on Thursday and the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

With 33 points, the Penguins begin play Thursday, one point back of Ottawa for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Nashville has just 24 points in 32 games. That’s tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the fewest in the National Hockey League. The Predators also have the fewest wins in the NHL, with only nine.

The reconstructing Preds actually won their most recent game, a 2-0 shutout over the New York Rangers, but they haven’t won back-to-back games since Oct. 25-26.

Nashville has a goal differential of minus-26. Only San Jose’s mark is worse at minus-28. The Preds have lost nine of their past 11. They are 6-7-2 at home. They’ll come to Pittsburgh on Feb. 1.

The Penguins lost 3-2 in Nashville last year in overtime.

LISTEN: Hockey podcasts with Tim Benz, Brian Metzer and Seth Rorabaugh taking about the Penguins leading into the Christmas break.