T.J. Watt, an early contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, did not practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday because of a knee injury.

It is the first time this season that Watt has landed on the team’s injury report.

Watt leads the Steelers with 3.5 sacks — he is tied for second in the NFL in that category — and 10 quarterback hits. He is second on the team with five tackles for loss.

Watt hasn’t missed a game since Week 3 of his rookie season when he sat out a game at Chicago with a groin injury. He has started the past 48 games, and he has played 84% of all defensive snaps this season.

The Steelers have one more day of practice prior to their 1 p.m. game Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field.

Watt joined his brother, Derek, on the sidelines for practice. Derek Watt also did not participate because of a hamstring injury that he sustained in the first half of the Steelers’ game in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. Also sitting out practice was safety Marcus Allen with a foot injury.

Three players who missed practice Wednesday because of minor injuries or ailments were back on the field as full participants: cornerback Joe Haden (illness) and wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Diontae Johnson (toe).

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey and defensive end Stephon Tuitt each returned to practice after receiving a veteran’s day off Wednesday.

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