Saints vs. Steelers NFL Week 10 injury report, odds: T.J. Watt expected back, New Orleans may need to bench Andy Dalton
Pittsburgh is expecting reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt back this week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers come out of their bye week at 2-6 and +2000 long shots at DraftKings to somehow sneak into the AFC playoffs. For that to happen, the Steelers need to start winning immediately. The good news is they are expecting back 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt from injured reserve on Sunday vs. New Orleans – which may bench quarterback Andy Dalton on a short week. The Saints are -2.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Watt, who tied the NFL single-season sacks record last year with 22.5, hasn't played since suffering a torn pectoral injury in Pittsburgh's 23-20 overtime win in Cincinnati in the season opener. The original injury timeline was six weeks and he didn't need surgery. Watt, who had a sack and pick in Week 1, did return to practice ahead of the team's Week 8 loss to the Eagles but the Steelers clearly wanted to give him the bye week to get his conditioning in order. Coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he's optimistic about Watt making his return to the lineup this week.
Since being selected as the 30th pick of the 2017 draft out of Wisconsin, Watt has missed 11 regular-season games. The Steelers are a brutal 1-10 in those. That win was a big upset as a double-digit home underdog vs. Tampa Bay in Week 6. Pittsburgh is near the bottom of the league in sacks with 15. Last year, it led the NFL with 55 of them.
There's more good news for the Steelers on that side of the ball. Safety Damontae Kazee also is expected back off injured reserve. He broke his forearm in the preseason finale and had nine screws and a plate put in. Kazee had 52 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles last year.
New Orleans looked terrible offensively Monday in a 27-13 home loss to Baltimore, with Dalton going 19-for-29 for 210 yards, a touchdown and a pick. The Saints totaled 243 yards and 13 first downs. Asked after the loss whether he considered making a change at quarterback, Coach Dennis Allen answered, "No, I didn't."
Jameis Winston opened the season as the Saints' starter but hasn't played since getting hurt in Week 3. Winston is healthy now, and one wonders whether it's time for him to get the ball again. The are 2-4 with Dalton starting and were 1-2 with Winston under center.
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