The Steelers’ T.J. Watt and teammate LB Alex Highsmith have been placed in the concussion protocol.
With 14 sacks in 13 games, T.J. Watt, the 2021 NFL defensive player of the year, is having another fantastic season.
With 15, sacks, Watt is one behind NFL leader Khalil Mack in the total.
Watt reported concussion-like symptoms to the Pittsburgh Steelers medical staff earlier this week.
The 29-year-old pass rusher was put into concussion protocol by the organization. One day after the Steelers were upset by the New England Patriots, on Friday, Watt reported his symptoms to the team’s physicians.
After unintentionally absorbing a knee to the face mask from Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott, Watt left the game on Thursday night in the first quarter.
Watt played 51 of Pittsburgh’s 57 defensive snaps, earning five tackles, before spending a brief time on the sidelines. He was held without a sack for the third time in 13 games.
After going into the concussion protocol in the first quarter, Alex Highsmith, who along with Watt makes up one of the most powerful pass rush tandems in the NFL, missed the most of the team’s defeat to New England.
Injuries have decimated Pittsburgh’s linebacker group this year. Won Alexander and Cole Holcomb, two inside linebackers, have already missed the entire season; however, Elandon Roberts played against the Patriots in spite of a groin ailment.
The only players on the active roster with outside linebacker experience are veteran Markus Golden and youngster Nick Herbig, giving the Steelers few alternatives at the position.
