TJ Watt injury status: Latest on Steelers LB for Week 16 Steelers vs. Ravens showdown

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt said after the team's Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he “rolled” his ankle late in the game, but it doesn't seem to be a serious injury.

Coach Mike Tomlin also mentioned that Watt's injury was to his low ankle, which is a good sign because a high ankle sprain frequently keeps players out for several weeks. Tomlin reportedly said:

“I think Watt’s injury can be described as a ‘low ankle’ at this juncture. But I will have more info later.”

The coach also added on Monday that he is hopeful Watt will be available for the Week 16 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. This suggests that there's a strong likelihood he'll play on Sunday.

The 30-year-old linebacker is still "questionable" for the game against Baltimore, according to Tomlin, although his health has significantly improved since the Eagles matchup.

Watt—who was named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year—has amassed 18 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 14 outings this season. He has again been the main character in Pittsburgh's stingy defensive setup.

With a victory over the Ravens, Pittsburgh may earn its first AFC North crown in four years, so Steelers fans will be hopeful their top defender can recover from the ankle injury before Sunday.

Having said that, if Watt is unable to play next weekend, the Steelers will have Preston Smith, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith ready to step in.

TJ Watt's injury update: What happened to the Steelers LB?

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers collectively had their hearts skip a bit when TJ Watt left the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 due to a lower-body injury.

The six-time Pro Bowl player was battling it out with an Eagles blocker at the time he sustained the injury, but it's unclear how exactly he hurt his ankle because nothing touched it during the engagement.

Although Watt was clearly in pain at the time of the incident, he informed reporters after the game, which the Steelers lost 27-13, that he just rolled his ankle and that X-rays showed no serious damage.

Watt might be ready to play in Week 16 based on Mike Tomlin's comments this week. The team is expected to have him available again before the regular season finishes and for the start of their playoff run in January, even if he can't play this week.