Steelers activate OLB T.J. Watt from reserve/covid list ahead of game vs. Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers have cleared the way for T.J. Watt to play Sunday in a pivotal AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Watt was activated from the reserve/covid list Saturday morning, a procedural move the Steelers have to make before 4 p.m. in order for him to be included on the 53-man roster.
The Steelers did the same thing on the eve of their game against the Los Angeles Chargers last month with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who passed negative PCR tests taken 24 hours apart and was cleared to play. It is not known whether Watt has yet to pass the required testing.
The All-Pro outside linebacker was placed on the reserve/covid list Monday. He has missed two full games and parts of two others because of injuries to his groin, hip and knee. He returned to play against Cincinnati last Sunday and had one tackle and an assist in the Steelers’ 41-10 loss.
Watt’s return would mean the Steelers don’t have to rely on either Taco Charlton or Derrek Tuszka, two players who were cut by teams at the end of training camp, to fill a starting role against the Ravens.
Even with Watt being removed from the reserve/covid list, the Steelers have offensive lineman Joe Haeg and outside linebacker Rob Spillane on the list. Defensive linemen Cameron Heyward and Isaiahh Loudermilk missed practice Friday because of undisclosed injuries.
But the depleted defensive line corps was given some reinforcement with the activation Saturday afternoon of Carlos Davis off of injured reserve. Davis has not played since Week 1 because of a knee injury. He returned to practice 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Veteran offensive lineman Chaz Green on Saturday was also added to the 53-man roster for potential availability for the Ravens game. Green has spent the season on the Steelers’ practice squad. A 29-year-old who was a third-round pick of Dallas in 2015, Green has appeared in regular-season games for four NFL teams — including one special-teams snap for the Steelers during an Oct. 3 loss at Green Bay.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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