T.J. Watt expects to play in the Steelers massive home game Sunday against the Titans. But will the terrific edge rusher, who leads the NFL in sacks, still be on the field when the outcome is decided?
Watt has enjoyed a highly productive season when he’s not been saddled with a variety of injuries that have forced him to miss two games and significant portions of three others. His availability -- or lack of it -- has had a profound impact on his club's fortunes, and may hold the key to its outside shot of reaching the playoffs.
The Steelers are 0-4-1 this season when he participates in less than 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
“Yeah, it's not like I'm out here trying to get hurt,” said Watt, who has 16 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 27 quarterback hits. “I'm trying to do everything I can each and every week to play and perform, and sometimes the soft tissue stuff is tough to really pinpoint how or what's happening. I don't know. I wish I had an answer because, obviously, I would fix it.”
The two-time All-Pro also has dealt with knee and hip problems this season. The “soft tissue stuff” to which he alludes is likely groin related. Watt was among a host of Steelers nursing groin injuries late in the summer and in the opening weeks of the season.
He lasted just 16 defensive snaps in a 26-17 loss to the Raiders on Sept. 19 and was forced to sit out the 24-10 setback to the Bengals the following week.
The quick four-day turnaround prior to the 36-28 defeat in Minnesota on Dec. 9 might have factored into his latest early departure.
“It's just one of those things,” said Watt, who was involved in just 25 defensive snaps against the Vikings. “Thursday games are always tough. (I) obviously had some tightness throughout the week going into it, and didn't have enough time to fully recover. Tried to go and wasn't able to play the whole game.”
The Steelers have averaged 3.6 sacks and allowed 22.4 points per game when Watt participates in 40-plus defensive snaps this season, according to research from the NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala. The club is 6-2 in those games. The Steelers have managed just 1.6 sacks and yielded 28.6 points per game when Watt fails to reach that mark.
“(It) definitely helped to have the back end of the short week, just to rest and recover and help my body catch back up, and I'm feeling much better this week,” Watt said.
THE INJURY REPORT
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The good news kept rolling for the Steelers as Joe Haden returned to practice as a full participant and is questionable for Sunday's game. The only player ruled out at this moment is linebacker Buddy Johnson with both tight end Kevin Rader and defensive end Isaiah Buggs listed as questionable.