Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt will not participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl games because of a knee injury that prevented him from playing in last week’s playoff game.
The Cleveland Browns gave word of Watt’s absence via the announcement that two of their players – linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and guard Wyatt Teller – were headed to Orlando for the Feb. 2-4. Cleveland guard Joel Bitonio also is opting out because of injury
The NFL switched from holding a traditional Pro Bowl game to a series of skills competitions two years ago.
This season, Watt made league history by becoming the first player to lead the league in sacks three times since the statistic was first introduced in 1982. 19 in 17 games for him.
Watt, the NFL defensive player of the year in 2021, may be a finalist once more this year. Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys and Myles Garrett of Cleveland are also seen as favorites to win the prize.
Coach Mike Tomlin stated on Thursday that Watt probably would have played if the Steelers had made it to this weekend’s divisional round of the playoffs. He was involved in an accident on January 6 with teammate Montravius Adams that resulted in a knee injury Finale of the regular season in Baltimore. Watt was not there for Monday’s 31-17 Steelers loss over the Buffalo Bills.
