Steelers Face Bashlash Over Handling of T.J. Watt Concussion

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been under a lot of fire for dropping consecutive games to opponents who are eight games below.500. However, the Steelers are currently under fire for the way they handled the injury to star outside linebacker T.J. Watt during their Week 14 matchup with the New England Patriots.

On the opening play from scrimmage, Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott struck Watt in the head with his leg. Watt left the pitch and went to the blue tent to get assessed.

Pro Football Talk announced on December 9 that Watt had entered the NFL concussion protocol, two days after the game.

During the game, NFL fans on Twitter questioned whether Watt ought to have been permitted to return. The defensive standout looked a touch confused from the sidelines, captured by the Amazon Prime Video cameras.

According to Kaylee Hartung of Amazon Prime, the Steelers modified Watt’s helmet with a visor to facilitate his comeback into the game.

Concerns regarding Watt’s return in Week 14 have grown since the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year entered the concussion protocol on December 9, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

On December 10, Florio reported that he had tried three times to inquire with the NFL about whether or not Watt was left out of the Patriots game. The league is still silent.

“There hasn’t been a response and probably won’t be one at this time,” wrote Florio. And it’s alright. However, it will simply heighten rumours that the procedure was improperly managed from the beginning.

“That Watt ought to have been taken out of the game because of the concussion that would have put him in the concussion protocol the following morning.”

Mike Florio Questions Handling of T.J. Watt Injury, Suggests Change to Concussion Protocol

On December 10, Florio posed two queries regarding Watt’s injury sustained in Week 14.

Sometimes a player sustains a concussion and symptoms don’t show up for a day or two after the injury. With Watt, it might have been the case. However, Florio contended that since the NFL now knows that concussion symptoms can take time to manifest, maybe a player should be declared out for safety after just one blow to the head.