DONE DEAL: After long time of not signing him he is finally signed in today…..

The Pittsburgh Steelers did everything they could and got some help from the Tennessee Titans to sneak into the 2023 NFL playoffs. Unfortunately, superstar outside linebacker, TJ Watt injured his knee in a collision with teammate Montravius Adams in the team’s season finale against the Baltimore Ravens. This led to Watt missing the Steelers’ Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills.

Watt isn’t sure that his presence in the contest would’ve changed the outcome, but emphasized that the decision not to play was ultimately the right one for his health.

Watt joined Mike Florio and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms on the set of Pro Football Talk Live on Radio Row at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Florio asked the 2023 league leader in sacks if he thinks he could’ve been a difference-maker for the Steelers in their return to the postseason for the first time without long-time franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

Watt has dealt with different health issues throughout his career. The biggest of those injuries was in the 2022 season when he missed seven games due to a torn pectoral. He suffered the injury in Pittsburgh’s season opener, visiting the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was able to return eight weeks later, after the Steelers’ bye week, to play against the New Orleans Saints. Watt posted the lowest sack total of his career with only 5.5, but still managed to secure his fifth nomination to the Pro Bowl.

Pittsburgh sacked Josh Allen twice on Jan 15th after the game was moved from Sunday to Monday due to extreme winter weather in Buffalo.

Outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and Markus Golden got to the Bills’ quarterback in the contest.

It is impossible not to wonder if that number would’ve been higher with an even less than fully healthy Watt.

He might not have been able to be his full self, but the 2022 season showed what he is capable of when not playing at maximum health.

To get started on his rehab and preparation for the 2024 season, he said the best call was for him not to play a week and a day after suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain.