The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense took a heavy hit yesterday when they announced star defensive linebacker, T.J. Watt was ruled out for their regular season-ending game against the Cleveland Browns.
Watt has undoubtedly become the face of the Steelers’ defense since the 2019 season and now the 2020 season. Earlier this week, on December 30, the Steelers named Watt as the team’s MVP. Watt had also won the award last year in 2019.
Yesterday afternoon, January 2, Burt Lauten, the Steelers’ director of Communications, tweeted “The following #Steelers have been downgraded to OUT & are not making the trip to CLE: DT Cam Heyward, C Maurkice Pouncey & LB T.J. Watt. Also, the three players already ruled out (Boswell, Edmunds, Roethlisberger) will not make the trip this weekend.”
The Watt news, including the other vital players just as Ben Roethlisberger, and Cam Heyward as out, has Steelers Fans already chalking up the game as a loss for them.
This game also marks the 14th time the Steelers and Browns have met during the end of the regular season, with the Steelers currently holding a 12-1 game winning streak.
The Steelers Bench
With news of not only Watt being out of the Browns game but Roethlisberger as well, fans can expect the certain return of Mason Rudolph. Last season, Rudolph fought defensive end for the Browns, Myles Garrett, in one of the 2019 season games.
However, it would seem that Garrett and Rudolph’s feud has since boiled down from last season, with Rudolph saying he would “hear Myles out” before the game.
The loss of Watt, however, almost cripples the Steelers’ chances at getting sacks. Watt is currently on his way to being the first Steelers’ player to lead the league in sacks since Kevin Greene in 1994.
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