T.J. Watt’s Return Delayed: Steelers Face Challenges Ahead of Cleveland Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait a little longer for the return of their star pass rusher, T.J. Watt. Despite Watt’s participation in practice this week, he has been ruled out for the team’s upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Watt underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair and stabilize a partially collapsed lung, which he suffered during a dry needling treatment at the team facility.
Watt’s absence will be felt, especially considering the Steelers will also be without wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. The team is already missing the suspended DK Metcalf, which further depletes their wide receiver corps. The secondary is also banged up, with cornerback James Pierre (calf) and slot corner Brandin Echols (groin) ruled out for the game. Safety Jalen Ramsey (illness) is listed as questionable after missing practice for the past two days, while guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) is also questionable despite being limited in practice throughout the week.
Steelers Receive Boost with Nick Herbig’s Return to Practice
However, the Steelers did receive some positive news, as outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) was a full participant in Friday’s practice and does not have a game designation. Herbig, who started in place of Watt in the win against the Miami Dolphins, has been a valuable contributor to the team this season, with a fumble recovery and career-high 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games. His return to the lineup will be a significant boost to the Steelers’ defense as they face the Browns on Sunday.
According to NFL.com, the Steelers are currently ranked 12th in the league in terms of total defense, allowing an average of 332.5 yards per game. With Watt’s return delayed and the team’s secondary banged up, the Steelers will need to rely on players like Herbig to step up and make plays on defense. As reported by ESPN, the Steelers’ defense has been a key factor in their success this season, and they will need to continue to perform well in order to stay competitive in the AFC North.
The Steelers’ game against the Browns on Sunday is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on CBS. Fans can also stream the game live on Paramount+ or listen to the radio broadcast on Steelers.com. With the team facing several challenges on both sides of the ball, it will be interesting to see how they respond and adapt in the absence of key players like Watt and Metcalf.
