The Pittsburgh Steelers will not have tight end Darnell Washington against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that Washington underwent surgery on his broken arm and is not expected to play again this season.
But edge rusher T.J. Watt could still suit up for the de facto playoff game against the Ravens.
“Optimistic about his potential inclusion in this game,” Tomlin said to the media. “We’ll work him up throughout the course of the week and let the amount of participation and the quality of participation be our guide in terms of whether or not he’s a participant.
“But certainly, I’m more optimistic this week than I have been in previous weeks.”
That’s a much more positive update on Watt’s status than what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided Monday.
“Up in the air is the status of T.J. Watt,” Rapoport said on NFL Gameday, via Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “Just remains to be seen if he’s fully healthy enough to [return].
Watt has been out since undergoing surgery on a partially collapsed lung on December 11. The edge rusher went to the hospital on December 10 after receiving treatment at the team’s facility.
The Steelers didn’t place Watt on injured reserve after the surgery. That move would have required Watt to miss four games.
But the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year will sit out his fourth consecutive contest if he can’t play in Week 18.
With his broken arm, Washington is very likely out for the season. In his third NFL campaign, Washington posted 31 receptions for 364 yards with one touchdown in 16 games.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Could Play in Week 18 vs. Ravens
Tomlin’s optimism will give Steelers fans hope that the team’s top edge rusher will return for the most important game of the season. Steelers Nation could at least be more positive about the possibility than it was earlier in the week.
Rapoport didn’t give a doomsday report Monday, but Rapoport seemed to characterize Watt’s return as not very likely.
“It’s not really about football status,” Rapoport added. “It’s just about overall health and getting back into shape. I think there’s a thought that he’ll be back, but until you know for sure, for sure, it remains to be seen.”
Among NFL insiders, Rapoport’s update was one of the more positive. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio called Watt a “long shot” to play in Week 18.
“Never say never, but it’s not an ideal timeline to be fully cleared,” Florio said on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast, via Kozora. “The Steelers aren’t treating this like a normal injury because it isn’t.”
It’s worth noting that Florio’s report is older than Rapoport’s and Tomlin’s update. That means, perhaps there really is growing optimism that Watt’s status is improving.
As Florio explained, though, Watt’s lung issue isn’t a typical injury. That makes the situation complicated.
But it’s very clear the Steelers could really use Watt back for Week 18. The Steelers have a strong collection of edge rushers behind Watt with Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and rookie Jack Sawyer, who had an interception Sunday.
But when at the top of his game, Watt is one of the best in the league. He’s a game-changer that could be the difference in the Steelers beating the Ravens and winning the AFC North.
How Steelers Replace TE Darnell Washington
Losing Washington before the pivotal Ravens showdown is obviously not ideal for Pittsburgh’s offense. Washington is a dominant run blocker and provided quarterback Aaron Rodgers a safety valve this season.
Without Washington, the Steelers really need to get fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth more involved. Freiermuth doesn’t have Washington’s size, but in the past, Tomlin has described Freiermuth as a zone killer in the passing game.
The Steelers haven’t used the veteran tight end much this season. But when he’s had opportunities, he’s shined. Freiermuth has caught 38 of his 49 targets, posting 435 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In 2022 and 2024, Freiermuth had more than 650 receiving yards in each season.
Getting Freiermuth opportunities will be essential with top receiver DK Metcalf also sidelined for Week 18. Metcalf is serving the final game of his suspension for getting into an altercation with a fan on December 21.
On Tuesday, Tomlin had other good news. Receiver Calvin Austin III has a chance to play versus the Ravens. Austin missed Week 17 because of a hamstring ailment.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Gives Near Opposite Updates on T.J. Watt, Darnell Washington appeared first on Heavy Sports.