The Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt has entered concussion protocol team spokesperson Burt Lauten confirmed. The player reported on Friday morning that he had been feeling concussion symptoms following the Steelers’ 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots.
Watt was injured during the first play of the loss to the Pats when he was hit in the face by the knee of running back Ezekiel Elliott’s at the end of a run. After leaving the field for several snaps, Watt returned to the game wearing a tinted visor later in the first quarter. He ended up playing in 90% of his team’s defensive snaps on the night.
This is a troubling absence for the Steelers, given that the team’s other pass rusher, Alex Highsmith, is out through a neck injury which he also suffered during the loss to the Patriots. In order to be allowed to return to action, Watt must be cleared by an independent neurologist.
