Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass rusher T.J Watt received a negative MRI on his hip and knee injuries following Sunday's tie against the Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It is currently unknown how much, if any, time Watt will miss. Watt's teammate, Steelers cornerback Joe Haden also considered day-to-day after sustaining a foot injury during Sunday's game, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Watt, who is second behind Myles Garrett with 12.5 sacks this season, left Sunday's game after sacking Lions quarterback Jared Goff near the end of the third quarter. Watt, who walked off the field under his own power, spent the rest of the game on the sideline after being evaluated in the team's medical tent.
A former first-round pick, Watt moved past brother J.J. Watt and Chiefs Hall of Fame pass rusher Derrick Thomas with the second-most sacks of any player in league history in his first 70 games. Watt's 62 sacks over that span trail only Reggie White's 79 sacks tallied during the start of his Hall of Fame career. Despite missing a game due to groin injury earlier this season, Watt is already closing in on James Harrison's franchise single-season record record of 16 sacks that he compiled during his Defensive Player of the Year campaign back in 2008.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Haden played in just 9% of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps after sustaining his injury on Sunday. Haden played in each of the Steelers' defensive snaps during the season's first eight games. With Haden out, rookie defensive back Tre Norwood and second-year cornerback James Pierre received extra snaps in Pittsburgh's defense. The duo helped limit the Lions to just six points during the second half and overtime session.
Taco Charlton is in line to start in the event that Watt has to miss time. Selected two spots ahead of Watt in the 2017 draft, Charlton was picked up by the Steelers in late September. He made his Steelers regular-season debut during Pittsburgh's Week 8 win over the Browns. Charlton, who has 11 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 47 career regular-season games, replaced Watt in the lineup during final stages of Sunday's game against the Lions.
Watt and Haden were not the only Steelers player who was injured on Sunday. Offensive linemen Trai Turner and Kevin Dotson suffered ankle injuries and were replaced during Sunday's game by J.C. Hassenauer and Joe Haeg. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will likely address all of his team's notable injuries during his weekly Tuesday press conference.
