J.J. Watt gives promising update on T.J. Watt injury

While the Pittsburgh Steelers’ weekend turned out positive by making the playoffs, some of the shine came off it due to the injury status of their star defender in T.J. Watt. However, per his brother, J.J. Watt, he very well could return this season depending on how the postseason plays out.

Watt shared the update on his younger brother on Twitter on Sunday. He made it known that, after an MRI, they determined that Watt is dealing with a Grade 2 sprain of his MCL that would likely require some time to fully heal.

Best case scenario for TJ.

Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Everything else looks pristine.

Couple weeks of rest/recovery.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 7, 2024

Watt continued to state as much during his appearances on the broadcasts on CBS throughout the day on Sunday.

Watt exited the 17-10 victory for Pittsburgh in Baltimore during the third quarter on Saturday with the injury. He suffered the sprain to his left knee and didn’t return despite protesting that he was good to go in an important game for the Steelers.

Before he left, Watt finished with eight tackles, including three for loss and two of which were sacks.

In his seventh professional season, Watt has season totals of 68 tackles, 19 sacks, eight deflections, four forced fumbles with three recoveries, and one interception. His 19 sacks led the NFL for the third time in the past four seasons and is the first time any player has done that three separate times in a career.

With the Titans’ win over Jacksonville on Sunday, Pittsburgh made it into the postseason for the first time in three years. They’ll now play Buffalo a week from now on Sunday after the Bills went into Miami and won in the regular season finale. That’d give Watt just a week to recover, which, based on the diagnosis, would put his availability very much in doubt.

Watt’s sprain will obviously make their playoff matchup in Orchard Park next weekend more difficult. If they can find a way to advance, though, they could get a boost in the form of a return from Watt depending on how far they can go.

2023-24 NFL Playoff picture set: matchups, game times revealed

The NFL playoff picture is set with all 14 teams now vying for a Super Bowl.

Below are the NFL playoff matchups for the Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFC and AFC.

NFL Playoff Picture

NFC

No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Dallas Cowboys
Time: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX

No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Detroit Lions
Time: Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC

No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time: Monday, 8:00 p.m ET
Channel: ESPN

BYE: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers

AFC

No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 2 Buffalo Bills
Time: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS

No. 6 Miami Dolphins at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
Time: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Channel: Peacock (Streaming)

No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Houston Texans
Time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC