ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Steelers might have to wait a bit longer for their best player's return.
T.J. Watt recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, according to a report by ESPN, and it is expected to delay his return to a struggling Pittsburgh defense.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the Steelers' Week 1 win over the Bengals, and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Watt would have been eligible to return to practice after Sunday's game at Buffalo, though the team did not expect him to be ready to return that quickly.
However, the surgery will add on a couple more weeks to the original prognosis, which will push his potential return to after the Steelers' bye in Week 9. Pittsburgh hosts the Saints at Acrisure Stadium in Week 10. According to the report, the surgery was done to "clean up a preseason injury that lingered into the regular season." It is unknown if this is the same injury Watt suffered when T.J. Hockenson cut down Watt's legs during the preseason finale against the Lions.
Since Watt went down with his initial injury, the defense has limped on ever since. The pass rush has not been nearly as effective, and the defense has struggled mightily in the fourth quarter. The Steelers are 0-7 when Watt doesn't play.
