Mike Tomlin says T.J. Watt was cleared to return for Steelers against Patriots

Mike Tomlin believes the Pittsburgh Steelers took the necessary steps to ensure that All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt didn’t return to their game last Thursday night with concussion symptoms.

Watt was placed in concussion protocol on Saturday, two days after he played 52 of a possible 57 defensive snaps in a 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots.

On the first play from scrimmage, Watt was clipped under his chin by the knee of Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott. He returned after missing a few plays. After the Patriots scored a touchdown, Watt was taken to the blue medical tent.

When he returned to the field for the next defensive series, Watt was wearing a dark visor on his helmet.

Asked at his weekly press conference Monday when Watt was examined for a concussion, he said, “I assume he was.”

“I manage the game,” Tomlin said. “I leave it to the medical experts. They essentially tell me when someone is out or subject to return or whether they are back. I got a report that he was subject to return, and I got a report he was back, and that was my knowledge of the details that transpired with him while he was out of the game.”

Watt will need to be cleared from concussion protocol this week if he is to suit up when the 7-6 Steelers face the 7-6 Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Fellow outside linebacker Alex Highsmith also is in the protocol after leaving the game against New England in the first quarter with what was called a neck injury.

Minus Watt and Highsmith, the Steelers are down to veteran Markus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig as the remaining outside linebackers on the 53-man roster. Golden was a healthy scratch against New England.

Tomlin said he didn’t know why Watt switched to the dark visor. Fans on social media have used the tinted visor as an example of Watt experiencing concussion symptoms despite being cleared to return.

“I wasn’t aware of (the switch),” Tomlin said. “I don’t have a response to that. I wasn’t aware he changed visors. He normally wears a visor. The tint of that was different? I wasn’t aware of that.”

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Quarterback Kenny Pickett will miss a second consecutive game because of ankle surgery. Mitch Trubisky will make his second start, with Mason Rudolph serving as the backup.

Trubisky threw a first-half interception that led to a touchdown and 11-point deficit in the Steelers’ 21-18 loss to the Patriots. He also threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, but he was unable to bring back the Steelers from a deficit that grew to 18 points in the opening half.

“I thought it improved as the game wore on,” Tomlin said when asked about Trubisky’s decision-making. “With a full week’s prep, I think it’s reasonable to expect that to continue and to continue at an increased rate.”

Tomlin said Rudolph will get extended work in practice this week as a backup. Because of the short turnaround between games against Arizona and New England, it wasn’t possible to get enough work for both quarterbacks.

“He certainly will get more opportunities this week,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin is not considering another quarterback change, and any reps given to the quarterbacks this week in practice won’t be with a competition in mind.

“I don’t know if we’re evaluating practice performance in that way at this time of the year,” Tomlin said. “He’ll get an opportunity to get some work, and we’ll evaluate that work and his readiness. We’re not opening the competition and things of that nature. It’s just not an environment for that as we work.”

Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts played through a groin injury against New England and after a weekend of recovery, “I imagine that is going to be less of an issue for him,” Tomlin said.