The NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2021 and six-time Pro Bowl linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, T.J. Watt, has been ruled out of the Steelers’ next game against the Buffalo Bills.
Head coach Mike Tomlin revealed this information in a press conference on Tuesday, according to Pro Football Talk. Further, in the wild-card round against the Bills, Tomlin shared that Mason Rudolph will start.
A Defensive Player of the Year candidate and Pro Bowler, Watt finished the regular season with 19 sacks — including two tonight. Now, out with a torn MCL (or Grade 3 sprain). https://t.co/EIZnPyzXjd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2024
Tomlin: "Playing without TJ is significant. But we've played without a lot of people this year and this is another opportunity to strike a blow for team."
"It's going to be a committeed approach. We better strengthen our output in other areas because TJ is one of a kind."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 9, 2024
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network shared that the prominent linebacker has sustained a Grade 3 MCL sprain. The head coach has also expressed, as per ESPN, “Playing without T.J. is significant. But we’ve played without a lot of people this year and this is another opportunity to strike a blow for the team.”
“It’s going to be a committeed approach. We better strengthen our output in other areas because T.J. is one of a kind.”
No surprise here, but Mike Tomlin said he will stick with Mason Rudolph at QB. "We're simply staying with the hot hand and not disrupting the apple cart. We'll continue in that vein."
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 9, 2024
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won games with Mason Rudolph and they will be continuing with him. The coach, in addition, revealed, as per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “We’re simply staying with the hot hand and not disrupting the apple cart. We’ll continue in that vein.”
NFL History.
Special stuff. @_TJWatt pic.twitter.com/3YFOOSSnms
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 8, 2024
Will @_tjwatt add another DPOY 🏆 to his collection? pic.twitter.com/8yrc7UB31E
— NFL (@NFL) January 9, 2024
Not possible without my coaches and teammates‼️‼️‼️ https://t.co/GmYrsO79Z8
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) January 8, 2024
T.J. Watt is also leading the season with 19 sacks. Whereas quarterback Rudolph has posted 74.3 per cent of his complete passes for 719 yards with three touchdown points.
