Prognosis unclear for Steelers' T.J. Watt after hip/knee injury

Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt gingerly walked off the field during the third quarter and did not return to Sunday’s tie against the Detroit Lions.

Watt suffered a hip/knee injury colliding with teammate Joe Schobert in the process of making a sack of Jared Goff late in the third quarter of the game that finished 16-16.

Watt remained on the field for several minutes and was attended to by training and medical personnel while teammates surrounded him. Fans at soggy Heinz Field began a chant of, “T.J.! T.J.!”

Watt, though, eventually walked off the field on his own power. He stood on the sideline for the remainder of the game, wearing a raincoat and winter cap as rain fell throughout the latter portions of the game.

Here's the injury to TJ Wattpic.twitter.com/TKRGvu8Yno

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 14, 2021

After the game, all coach Mike Tomlin would say was that Watt was “being evaluated.”

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward said Watt “was in good spirits” when they spoke, but Heyward deferred to Steelers medical staff in regards to any other details. Tomlin is expected to update Watt’s status during his news conference Tuesday.

“Knowing T.J., I expect him to be back as soon as he possibly can,” said Schobert, who’s known Watt since their days as college teammates at Wisconsin. “I don’t know what’s wrong, what his prognosis is going to be. But knowing him, he’s going to be dying if he’s off the field and he’s going to trying to get back a quickly as possible.”

A finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons, Watt’s sack gave him 12½ in eight games played this season. He missed the Sept. 26 game against the Cincinnati Bengals because of a groin injury.

Taco Charlton received the bulk of the snaps in Watt’s stead opposite the other outside linebacker starter, Alex Highsmith. Derrek Tuszka also played extensively. Highsmith had two tackles for a loss, a sack and tied for the team high with eight solo tackles. Charlton was in on three tackles.

“I’m never surprised when guys step up and answer the bell when given an opportunity,” Tomlin said.

Promoted from the practice squad two weeks ago after the trade of Mevin Ingram III, Charlton is a former first-round pick who has played for four teams in five NFL seasons.

Jacob Tuioti-Mariner was signed to the practice squad this week as an outside linebacker. Delontae Scott has been on the practice squad since September. Scott never has appeared in an NFL game; Tuioti-Mariner had three sacks and 54 tackles over 30 NFL games the past three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons until he was waived last week.

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