JANUARY 7: Watt has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain, as first reported by brother J.J. Watt via X. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) says the team has confirmed the news, which represents a best-case scenario. While a Grade 2 sprain will still force T.J. Watt to miss mutliple weeks — thereby sidelining him for the rest of the campaign unless the Steelers qualify for the postseason and make a deep run — the star sack artist has avoided a complete tear and will therefore avoid surgery.
It does not sound as if this injury will have any long-term consequences.
JANUARY 6: The Steelers gave their postseason chances a considerable boost on Saturday, but the victory may have come at a substantial cost. Edge rusher T.J. Watt exited the game with a knee injury, and initial tests point to neither a best- or worst-case scenario. 
Watt is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Defensive Player of the Year candidate asked to return to the contest – a 17-10 win over the Ravens – but he was not allowed to risk further injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that Watt is thought to be dealing with a Grade 3 sprain, which would likely require a multi-week recovery timeline, albeit a much shorter one than a tear or an ACL injury.
Further testing will be done in the near future, and a clearer diagnosis will emerge at that point. An MRI is scheduled for tomorrow, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If the initial fears are proven to be accurate, however, Watt will face a steep challenge to be able to suit up for the Steelers’ wild-card matchup should they qualify for the postseason. Missing him would deal a massive blow to Pittsburgh’s defense.
Watt entered Saturday’s game tied for the league lead in sacks with 17. He added a pair before colliding with teammate Montravius Adams and being forced out of the contest. The 2021 DPOY earned a sixth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation days ago, and he is on track for a fourth first-team All-Pro nod. Given his continued elite production after an injury-shortened 2022 campaign, the Steelers’ edge contingent would be severely shorthanded if he were to miss time.
However, Pittsburgh would still have fellow starter Alex Highsmith available in the event the team managed to reach the wild-card round. Highsmith signed a four-year, $68MM extension this offseason after establishing himself as a productive complement to Watt. The former third-rounder posted seven sacks this season while remaining healthy for every contest. The latter point is a signficant one given not only Watt’s injury, but the signficant ailments suffered by All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and multiple inside linebackers which have left the Steelers’ defense shorthanded.
Provided the ongoing Texans-Colts game does not end in a tie, Pittsburgh will require a loss by at least one of Jacksonville or Buffalo to claim a wild-card berth. In the event the Steelers find themselves playoff-bound, their recent momentum with quarterback Mason Rudolph at the helm could make them a more difficult opponent than their play through much of the season would have suggested. Pending Watt’s tests, though, his health status will be a major storyline to watch.
While not identical, the Flacco and Rudolph situations are interesting. You have to wonder if either will test free agency this offseason. Pickett is awful.
It’s humorous that local columnists are now chiming in with praise for Rudolph. Most are saying there should be competition in camp next season. Many are saying the team isn’t done giving Pickett a chance
And that’s likely true. And a shame. They’ll likely hand the starting job to Pickett next season. I’ll echo Mark Madden here: Pickett stinks
I don’t know if Rudolph will re-sign in Pittsburgh although, I think he has the best chance to eventually start here where he wouldn’t elsewhere
Amazing that this kid sat the bench in favor of two stiffs for three-quarters of the season
Your point is well taken old dude. However, if they make the playoffs and Rudolph plays well, there simply cannot be an open competition for QB next season. That would mean that Rudolph played efficiently 4 games in a row. Pickett doesn’t have 4 quality games played in his career.
Agree 100%, Lars. But teams are generally unwilling to make admissions that their 1st round draft of a QB—especially in a situation where almost all teams projected Pickett as a 3rd rounder—was a mistake
No doubt in my mind that this entire offense simply responded to having a real QB under center as opposed to the two other guys.
Guess we’ll see
Bottom line Kenny Pickett is a bum. Second string quarterback at best Steelers need to either trade in the off-season or come up with a strategy for a new starter. Mason Rudolph is definitely not the answer either.
Explain why he’s not the answer. Look, I’m not sold on Rudolph just yet and he may come down to earth quickly. But after these last three starts, I’m just wondering how anyone says “he’s not the answer” after what we’ve seen over the past three weeks
Sign the kid. And then let him compete in training camp