T.J. Watt earns AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 18

Steelers superstar T.J. Watt earned defensive player of the week honors for his play against the Ravens. His two sacks helped the Steelers earn an AFC wildcard berth.

To think what stats he could’ve generated if only he hadn’t sprained his left knee in the second half of the 17-10 win. The Steelers’ season lives on another week, with the team traveling to play the Bills Sunday in Buffalo. But Watts’ knee isn’t healthy enough for the outside linebacker to play.

Coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Watts wouldn’t be available. They’ll figure out another plan to corral Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

“Playing without T.J. is significant,” Tomlin told reporters. “But to be quite honest with you, we’ve played without a lot of people this year. It’s just another opportunity for us to strike a blow for the team.

“It’s going to be a committee approach. We better strengthen our output in other areas because T.J. is one of a kind.”

Steelers expect Minkah Fitzpatrick back for playoffs

Tomlin’s description of Watt wasn’t hyperbolic. Watt’s 19 sacks led the NFL this year. It’s the third time in his seven seasons to top the league in that category. No other player in NFL history has led the league in sacks three times or more. (The NFL began maintaining sack stats in 1982). Watt and his big brother, J.J. became the first set of brothers to achieve at least 19 sacks in multiple seasons. J.J., the former star for the Texans and Cardinals, retired at the end of 2022. Earlier this week, he posted on social media that he’d sub in for T.J. against the Bills. He shared a photoshopped image of his younger brother in his Steelers uniform. Except in this photo, J.J. stared back from beneath the helmet.

There was some good news for the Steelers defense. Tomlin believes Minkah Fitzpatrick will play after missing the last three games with a knee injury. And like edge rushers, a defense needs its top safeties when facing Allen. Fitzpatrick returned to practice last week, but was limited in what he could do.

Meanwhile, Tomlin also is leaving Mason Rudolph as first-team Steelers quarterback. Rudolph has started the last three games, all wins for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers earned the seventh (and final) seed of the AFC bracket, which means a trip to Buffalo, the two seed. It also means they’ll be dealing with some frigid temperatures. The high for Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y. is forecast to be 25, with some morning snow showers.