Another week, another high-profile Pittsburgh Steelers player added to the NFL’s covid list.

On Monday, it was All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt. The team announced the move in a 13-word release.

By policy, the team does not reveal why its players are added to the covid list, but it is presumed Watt is vaccinated. If so, this would indicate a positive test for the coronavirus. If true, he can only re-join the team after two consecutive days of negative tests and 48 consecutive hours of being symptom-free.

After the Steelers emerged from the first half of the season as the only team without a player on the covid list, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tested positive the day before the Nov. 14 tie with the Detroit Lions. He returned a week later, just in time to start the next game at the Los Angeles Chargers — but the Steelers were without All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for that one.

Receiver/returner Ray-Ray McCloud was the only player out because of covid for this past Sunday’s blowout loss at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watt has missed two full games and parts of two others this season because of injuries to his groin, hip and knee. Watt returned to the lineup in Cincinnati but was limited to a solo tackle, an assist and no quarterback hits during the 41-10 defeat.

Watt signed a four-year, $112 million contract in the days before the regular season began.

Without him, the Steelers have Taco Charlton and Derrek Tuszka — two players who were cut by teams at the end of training camp and were then added to the Steelers’ practice squad — on the active roster at outside linebacker after starter Alex Highsmith. The team traded veteran outside linebacker Melvin Ingram to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick four weeks ago.

Despite the time missed because of injury and the lackluster game in Cincinnati, Watt remains second in the NFL with 12½ sacks.

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