After a bitterly disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Steelers LB T.J. Watt expressed frustration not just with his team’s play, but with another missed holding call that may have led to an injury.
“The NFL has something against me, so I don’t want to talk anymore negatively against them,” the All-Pro said after Pittsburgh fell to 7-5. “I don’t know what I did, but I’ll leave it at that.”
With 1:31 left in the third quarter, Watt flushed Kyler Murray from the pocket but was visibly slowed down by what appeared to be holding.
The officials didn’t make the call, Murray picked up exactly the eight yards needed for a third down conversion, and Watt appeared to injure his lower right leg.
After heading to the blue, pop-up injury tent on the sidelines and getting a heavy tape job on his right ankle, Watt stood on the sideline for the remainder of the Arizona drive.
When he returned, it was on a short field due to a Miles Killebrew special teams penalty that Arizona converted into a 4-play, 33-yard touchdown drive, making the score 24-3 with just 8:28 left.
The Steelers host another 2-10 squad on Thursday night when the New England Patriots visit Pittsburgh.