Steelers' star pass rusher T.J. Watt suffered a sprained left knee and hip injury that is expected sideline him for the team's game Sunday in Los Angeles against the Chargers according to a source.
Watt was injured in the third quarter of Sunday's 16-16 tie against the Lions at Heinz Field that left the Steelers at 5-3-1. It was his 12 1/2 sack of the season, putting him just behind Myles Garrett's league-leading 13.
The Steelers are hopeful to have Ben Roethlisberger back against the Chargers. Roethlisberger missed Sunday's game against the Lions after testing positive for COVID-19 Saturday. Roethlisberger self-reported feeling ill Saturday morning. But he's vaccinated, so he'll need to be symptom free and pass two COVID tests in back-to-back days to be cleared, though that might not happen until later in the week.
Mason Rudolph made his first start of the season against the Lions in place of Roethlisberger.
The news on cornerback Joe Haden isn't nearly as bad. According to Mike Tomlin, Haden suffered a mid-foot sprain in the first half against the Lions. He did not return to the game, but is considered day-to-day according to multiple reports.
Starting guards Trai Turner and Kevin Dotson, both of whom suffered ankle sprains in the second half and did not return. They were replaced by J.C. Hassenauer and Joe Haeg in game, though veteran B.J. Finney, who was inactive for the game, could also be called upon to step in if either can't play against Los Angeles.
Dotson's injury is believe to be more serious and could lead to him missing at least a couple of weeks.
Anyone the Steelers can get back against the Chargers (5-4) will be critical. While the Steelers currently hold the top Wildcard spot in the AFC playoff standings, they're just a half-game ahead of a large pack of teams that includes Los Angeles. They're also just a half-game behind the Ravens (6-3) in the AFC North standings.
Winning without Watt will be a tall task. He's accounted for nearly half of the team's 26 sacks this season, while also forcing a team-best three fumbles and recovering two, which also leads the team.
The Steelers will be forced to lean on former Dallas first-round draft pick Taco Charlton and former Broncos seventh-round draft pick Derek Tuszka if Watt does sit out against the Chargers.
Charlton played 23 snaps in the tie against the Lions and recorded three tackles, while Tuszka played 21 snaps but was not credited with a tackle.
The Steelers elevated Charlton, who has 11 career sacks, to their active roster from the practice squad after trading veteran Melvin Ingram to the Chiefs three weeks ago at the NFL trade deadline for a sixth-round draft pick.
Ingram had 10 tackles and one sack in the Steelers' first eight games. He had two tackles on 60 defensive snaps in two games with the Chiefs.
If Haden misses the game against the Chargers, second-year pro James Pierre would likely get the start opposite Cam Sutton at cornerback. It also could mean that corner Ahkello Witherspoon, acquired via a trade with the Seahawks in the preseason for a 2023 fifth-round draft pick, could see playing time.
Witherspoon has been active for just one game this season, that coming in Week 2 against the Raiders.
